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THIZE] SOTTTZHCEIR/IN" 

APPLE AND PEACH CDLTDEIST, 

ADAPTED TO 

THE SOIL AND CLIMATE OF MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, THE CAROLINAS, GEORGIA 

AND FARTHER SOUTH, INCLUDING PORTIONS OF THE WEST 

AND WEST VIRGINIA, CONTAINING 

FULL AND PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS 

IN 

SUCCESSFUL CULTURE, GRAFTING, BUDDING, TRAINING, TRANSPLANTING, 
MULCHING, PRUNING, FRUIT- GATHERING, &C, &C, 

TOGETHER WITH 

V . MOST ESTEEMED ORCHARD FRUITS, SUITABLE FOR THE TABLE, THE 
KITCHEN, AND FOR MARKET PURPOSES, 

with iXiXiTJSTia-A.'rioisrs.' 

ALSO 

A TREATISE ON INSECTS AND THEIR EXTERMINATION. 



BY 



/do 



f) 



JAMES FITZ, Keswick, Va.. 

Practical Horticulturist, member of the Virginia Horticultural Society 
and the American Ponvological Society. 

J. W. FITZ, Editor, 

Prof. West Tennessee Female College. 



J. W. RANDOLPH & ENGLISH, 

IS IS IV1AIN STREET, RICHMOND, VA 

1872. 



Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1872, 

By J. w. fitz, and J. w. Randolph & English, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. 



b^> 






Fergusson & Radt, Printers. Richmond. 



PREFACE. 



One of the most prominent authors on American Horticul- 
ture, says in the preface to his excellent work on " Fruit and 
Fruit Trees," "A man born in one of the largest gardens, 
and upon the banks of one of the noblest rivers of America, 
ought to have a natural right to talk about Fruit Trees." Our 
Grand Sire, Adam, also first saw the light near a garden — 
cultivated fruit there. That same garden was the source of a 
"noble river." The author of this work was not born in a- 
garden or on the banks of a noble river ; but on the 
breezy summit of a red-land mountain in Piedmont, Vir- 
ginia — not so high, perhaps as that mentioned in Holy 
Writ, where all the kingdoms of the earth were shown 
in one view, but high enough for salubrious atmosphere, and 
for the pure air to play among the green foliage and white 
blossoms of the waving orchards in Spring, and the bending 
trees laden with red, striped, and golden burdens of tender, lus- 
cious apples in Summer and Fall ; that might vie with the 
allegorical apples of Paradise — that flouted their tempting 
beauty and sweetness amid the groves in the garden of Eden. 

The Peach too, the melting, juicy, nectared Peach, in all 
its perfection, grow here in the bright sun and ambient air. 
No borer ever, in those days, presumed to work destruction 
to its roots, or winged insects sting the soft blushing cheek of 
its downy fruit, that hung in . delicious clusters, wooing the 
hand to reach forth and take. 

Reared amid these surroundings, the author, in the re- 
recollection regrets the lethargy, that at present pervades the 
South in regard to fruit culture, and the degeneracy of fruits ; 
and like the celebrated author just referred to, thinks he has 
a right to talk, and investigate the causes of both, to discuss 
freely all other points appertaining to successful, remunera- 
tive fruit-culture. He also hopes, from his practical know- 



IV PREFACE. 

ledge and experience in horticultural and pomological pur- 
suits, and from his valuable correspondence, and select 
and copious cullings from the best authors, both British and 
American, and a thorough examination of their views, to fill 
the vacuum that exists in Southern horticulture, by supplying 
the information so much needed in the successful culture of 
fruit-trees. 

The prevalence of this apathy and inattention in a large, en- 
lightened, rural community, whose soil and climate is unsur- 
passed as it regards adaptation to fruit trees, their longevity, 
luxuriant growth and perfection of fruit, is only to be ac- 
counted for by assuming that the agricultural interests of the 
people have monopolized not only their soil, but their ener- 
gies, leaving .only the "truck-patch" and a small part of the 
garden for fruit trees, and scarcely a thought about their 
cultivation. 

We hope in the following pages to show the impolicy of 
a course so exclusive ; and we might say so prejudicial 
to the community ; as good health, good living, and 
good morals, to say nothing of pecuniary results that will 
rival cotton or tobacco, are prominent benefits that will cer- 
tainly reward the care and attention bestowed on fruit-trees. 

Although this work is arranged and intended for Southern 
and Western latitudes and climates, yet its use is not incompat- 
ible with wide range and general patronage ; and with modifi- 
cations to suit particular localities may be used in almost all 
sections of our country. 

The Author. 
October, 1872. 



PREFATORY REMARKS BY TEE EDITOR. 



The Author and Editor have been at great pains to render 
this work, the first of the kind published in the South, com- 
plete and exhaustive in the specialties of which it treats — in 
a word, a practical standard treatise for the farmer's and 
fruit-grower's library. 

The numerous select lists of fruits for the various geological 
sections of each state are valuable, and may be implicitly re- 
lied on. As to this feature, it is unique and exceptional. 

Fruit nomenclature, hitherto in such confusion, has received 
the attention its importance merits, and incorrect names have 
been signified under the requisite changes. 

The Pilot and Albemarle Pippin, celebrated apples of this 
Piedmont country, have been for the first time introduced 
into a standard book. Shakspeare surely would have enjoyed 
them, as witness, Justice Shallow to Falstaff: "You shall see 
mine orchard, where in an arbour we will eat a last year's 
pippin of my own grafting," and again, Sir Hugh Evans, in 
the " Merry Wives of Windsor, " " I will make an end of my 
dinner — there's pippins and cheese to come." 

En passant, with deference, though the American Pomo- 
logical Society in its Catalogue places the Newtown pippin, as 
the general name, and the Albemarle pippin as the local 
name for the same apple, yet we apprehend it is still a question 
which name ought to have precedence — a point to be in- 
quired into. 

As to foreign varieties of apples and peaches, but few have 
been tested with satisfaction. Of the former, some of Rus- 
sian origin, such as the Tetofsky, have met with favor in the 
No rthwest. 

Southern pomologists should make trial of varieties of 
Southern Europe, and such parts of Asia, as in topical 
aspects are under like isothermal lines. 



VI PREFATORY REMARKS BY THE EDITOR. 

The Male Carle, the famous commercial apple of Italy, is 
well adapted to the South. 

As the statistics of census of 1870 teach, horticultural 
progress is making rapid advances, and soon our Southland 
will be famed for its supremacy in fruit culture. 

Pomological Societies should be established in every county, 
and chairs of Horticulture and Pomology well endowed, be 
founded in every college. 

Iowa is in advance of Virginia in this regard. 

The manufacture of the work is creditable to Richmond 
enterprise. 

Mr. Kennedy Palmer, artist and attache' of the Richmond 
Enquirer Office, executed the engravings. As a work of 
this character should be both critical and comprehensive, it, 
of course, required great labor and peculiar qualifications in 
the author to produce it ; hence, whenever preceding writers 
have described any matter well and clearly, he has endorsed 
them in their exact language. The results of his own ex- 
perience are embodied in the work. 

Appropriately to the foregoing, I may invoke the saying of 
a wise man, alius alio plus invenire potest ; and to the same 
intent that of my Lord Coke, nihil simul invention et per- 
fectum est. 

In conclusion, let me direct the attention of farmers and 
fruit-growers to the study of botany, entomology and meteor- 
ology, as bearing specially upon pomology, which is now a 
science; and the principles of the facts upon which it is based 
should be thoroughly comprehended. 

J. W. Fitz. 

Keswick, Va. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

1. George IV . Frontispiece 

2. Treatment of Growing Bud. , 38 

3. Cleft and Root Grafting 43 

4. Extreme Branch Grafting 45 

5. Design for Orchard 67 

6. Design for Orchard 68 

7. Notched Board 71 

8. Pruning Chisel 100 

9. Yellow Bellefleur Apple 146 

10. Wine Sap Apple 154 

11. Round Headed Apple Tree Borer, Larva, Pupa, Beetle 190 

12. Flat Headed Borer 196 

13. Codling Moth, or Apple Worm, in all Stages 197 

14. Harris' Bark Louse 205 

15. Oyster Shell Bark Louse 206 



PEACH CULTURE. 

16. Yellow Alberge Peach.. : 224 

17. Pruned and Unpruned Trees 245 

18. Male Borer— Female Borer 256 

19. Peach Worm , 2*56 

20. Curculio 261 

21. Curculio — Larva — Pupa — Beetle 264 



INTRODUCTION. 



It will be readily perceived, on examining authors on fruit 
culture, that the South has been neglected, not only by North- 
ern agriculturists, horticulturists and pomologists, but also 
by Southern writers, some of whom were, and are, eminently 
qualified to handle this subject in a most comprehensive 
and masterly manner. 

Perhaps no portion of the world can boast a more conge- 
nial and favorable climate than that part of the American 
continent which our title page designates, for fruit of almost 
every kind, and especially for the most palatable, wholesome, 
medicinal and valuable of all fruits — the apple and peach. 

Situated between the extremes of Northern and Southern 
lines, deemed unfavorable to high flavor and delicious perfec- 
tion, the field for successful culture is so ample, congenial and 
universal, that it is passing strange that able pens have not 
diffused among Southern farmers the art and science of horti- 
culture and pomology in all their practical and interesting 
details, and the value, growing and care of young orchards 
understood and appreciated as it should be. 

It is admitted that, to some extent, we are aroused on the 
subject, and are convinced of the natural advantages of our 
soil and climate; and that many thrifty orchards are cultivated 
with abundant success in the various portions of the South, 
ern States, except in the maritime districts of the Carolinas 
and Georgia, which are sandy and level and the air replete 
with humidity, rendering that section not so well adapted to 
the apple and peach, but well suited for the culture of other 
delicious fruits. 

Although English and Northern writers are profuse in 
general and particular directions and instructions in the cul- 
ture and management of fruit trees, yet such works mostly 
apply to the particular humid climate of the one and arctic 
2 



Z INTRODUCTION. 

location of the other, in which their own experience, although 
limited as to latitude, is very properly brought to aid them in 
their valuable compilations and publications. This ignorance, 
however, of what is best for more favorable climates, renders 
these works less valuable here, although the general culture 
and management may approximate to that proper for more 
favorable latitudes. 

Still the question might be asked, Why will not Northern 
tillage and management and varieties of fruit answer about 
as well in the South? We reply, as farther objection, that 
climate makes the difference in all these things, or in the most 
of them. A list of fine apples and peaches originating and 
flourishing at the North, and- the leading domestic and mar- 
ket fruits there, when carried to Virginia and farther South, 
lose their distinctive features : for instance, a winter apple at 
the North is a fall or early autumn apple here, and autumn 
fruit there becomes summer fruit here, and so on throughout 
all the different varieties in the catalogue. Time of cultiva- 
tion, pruning, modifications in the culture and general treat- 
ment of the soil, have also some part in making up the differ- 
ence between Northern and Southern success in cultivation. 

Special and select catalogues, carefully prepared and ar- 
ranged to suit our latitude and that of more Southern States, 
as well as portions of the West, will be found in this volume : 
and the author has spared no pains or expense in consulting 
pomologists and others of the different States of the South, 
from Maryland to Georgia, and the West, not only in regard 
to a list for general cultivation, but for lists for special locali- 
ties, and for a succession of fruit during the different seasons, 
suitable for market and home consumption, for cider, and for 
all other purposes. 

The author is not aware of the existence of any regular 
and extended treatise on apple and peach culture suitable for 
the latitudes designated in this work, although numerous val- 
uable papers and articles have appeared from time to time in 
our excellent agricultural journals, from which, in compiling 
certain portions of this work, he has not failed to avail him- 
self of their invaluable aid ; and, in addition to his own views 



INTRODUCTION. 6 

and experience, numerous standard works, both British and 
American, have been carefully consulted. Nor has the au- 
thor troubled the reader with a useless parade of quotations 
from different authors, but he has, when deemed proper, 
adopted their observations where his own were either defec- 
tive or totally wanting. Some of those to whom he is most 
obliged are A. F. M. Willock, English author, with American 
notes by James Mease, M. D. ; The British Fruit Gardener 
and Art of Pruning, by Thomas Abercrombie; Kitts' Trea- 
tise on Fruit Trees; Bradley on Gardening; Art of Garden- 
ing; Knight on the Culture of the Apple and Pear; Philo- 
sophical Transactions; Plan of an Orchard, by George Lind- 
ley; Bucknel's Orchardist, London; British Fruits; Guide 
to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden, by George Lindley, 
London ; The Orchard and Fruit Garden, by Charles Mcin- 
tosh, London. American authors: The New England Fruit 
Book, by R. Manning; The Pomological Manual, by Wm. R. 
Prince, New York; The American Orchardist, by James 
Thacher, M. D., Boston; A Treatise on Horticulture, by Wm. 
R. Prince, New York; Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 
by A. J. Downing, New York and London; Insects Injurious 
to Vegetation, T. W. Harris, Cambridge, Mass.; The Prac- 
tical Entomologist; Fruits of America, C. M. Hovey; The 
American Fruit Book, S. W. Cole; Elliott's Western Fruit 
Growers' Guide; Barry's Fruit Garden; Bridgman's Fruit 
Cultivators' Manual; Thomas' Fruit Culturist; Rivers' Mini- 
ature Fruit Garden; Gardening for the South, William N. 
White ; Fuller's Forest Tree Culturist ; A View of the Culti- 
vation of Fruit Trees in the United States and of the Man- 
agement of Orchards and Cider, by William Coxe, &c. 

In addition to the above Avorks on horticulture and po- 
mology, we have had access to most of the magazines and 
periodical works treating on subjects connected with our work. 
Our correspondence with numerous fruit-growers and nurse- 
rymen have been valuable and satisfactory. For these es- 
teemed favors we return our sincere thanks. From the infor- 
mation they have furnished, coming from different parts of 



4 INTRODUCTION. 

the country, we have been enabled to solve doubts and eluci- 
date many facts connected with fruit-growing. 

In addition to the scarcity of horticultural information 
suited to the South, a farther inducement for the writing and 
compilation of this work was suggested by the impulse lately 
given to agricultural and general improvement; and from the 
tide of emigration now flowing into Virginia and the South 
from the North and elsewhere, seem to render a treatise on 
"Fruit Culture" almost indispensable, as, it is presumed, such 
new settlers have many things to learn in regard to our cli- 
mate, &c, that will not admit the delay attendant on practi- 
cal experience; and more especially will information be de- 
sired as regards "apple and peach culture" — the art of pro- 
ducing the most valuable of fruits. 

The advantages to be derived from diffusing among the 
people a scientific, comprehensive and practical treatise on 
horticultural and pomological subjects suited more especially 
for our Southern and Southwestern latitudes, must be appa- 
rent to all who have bestowed the least thought upon the sub- 
ject. Not only is the culture of fruit a source of pleasure, 
but, if rightly understood and practiced, it is in many locali- 
ties a money-making occupation — an interesting, easy and 
safe way to accumulate wealth — conducive to the health and 
comfort of man — "a labor of love," with ever increasing 
pleasure as the work proceeds. 

Nothing immoral can grow out of employment so benefi- 
cial, but, on the contrary, an occupation so innocent and use- 
ful has a tendency to exalt our views of the goodness of 
Providence in bestowing the rich gifts of the vegetable king- 
dom with a profuse hand. The Almighty Power that sus- 
tains the universe, that points the course of the glorious 
orb of day and the,, silvery retinue of night, also unfolds the 
tender blossoms .ajtd flowers, and teaches our hands the art 
to aid in developing the green tree, the prolific buds and the 
golden fruit. 

Sound and matured fruit is at all seasons grateful to the 
palate, nutritious, medical and desirable. It is especially in 
demand during the inclement season of snows and bleak 



INTRODUCTION. 5 

winds, for we have some weather of that sort in Virginia, and 
even farther South. How delightful to sit by the social board 
and enjoy the juicy, luscious apple, or the preserved products 
of the no less aromatic peach, the small fruits, done up in 
the shape of pies and tarts, jellies, &c. To the juveniles of 
the family circle, more especially, is the treat to be desired at 
this season, and the idea of such a repast makes bright eyes 
sparkle, and 

Little mouths can never pout 

When the apples are about. 

The old, the middle-aged and everybody likes a good mel- 
low apple, and its use at all seasons is extremely conducive to 
the pleasure and health of all. 

Mr. Thomas S. Pleasants, of Petersburg, Virginia, in a 
valuable article on "Diversity of Agricultural Productions," 
says: "The business of fruit culture admits of almost infinite 
expansion ; for though continually increasing, the demand is 
always ahead of the supply. It has been prosecuted in the 
vicinity of Norfolk with extraordinary success for a number 
of years, and to some extent along the margin of the large 
water-courses, where the facilities, both for production and 
transportation, are equal to any other locality. The conti- 
guity of extensive sheets of water is a certain protection 
against the damaging effects of late frost. Peaches and ap- 
ples are considered among the most profitable crops that can 
be grown, as they are always in demand at high prices on the 
spot, wherever a skipper can navigate his craft. The early 
apples from a thrifty and well-established orchard have been 
sold as high as a thousand dollars per acre. As there is no 
limit to the demand, the farmer can scarcely err in devoting 
a part of his premises to the culture of this fruit, always be- 
ing particular to select the very earliest varieties. In passing, 
it may be well to give a caution against any Northern variety 
for domestic use in winter. Owing to the length of our sea- 
sons, they arrive at maturity too soon in the fall to admit of 
being kept for that purpose." 

It appears from the experience of all farmers who have 
planted orchards, that trees furnished by nurseries of our own 



b INTRODUCTION. 

State. Virginia, grow better than those brought from Northern 
States, and that our nurserymen know better what trees to 
recommend for different locations within the State, and are 
more reliable than those obtained from traveling agents. The 
same may be said of more Southern localities. 

A good writer says, "It is much to be regretted that so 
many orchards throughout the South are so badly cared for. 
It is not enough, as some appear to think, to plant an orchard 
and fence it, and go annually for a crop of fruit. There are 
thousands of trees that have never been pruned nor manured." 

In favorable situations these trees will still live and pro- 
duce fruit, but in localities less favorable they die or gradu- 
ally produce smaller crops and poorer fruit. The good effects 
of a liberal dressing of manure, and in most cases ashes, is no 
where so apparent as when applied to a poor scrubby orchard. 

As a substantial element of food for many, as a valuable 
agent in preserving and promoting good health, and as a lux- 
ury which all classes may enjoy with a zest and a relish, 
"there is no substitute for the apple within the wide range of 
food for man." To the non-producer and to those to whom it 
is denied by climate, such gratification is unappreciated or un- 
known; and the same, to some extent, may be said of the 
peach. Both are devoured by most animals with avidity, and 
both are especially nutritious and fattening food for hogs. 

" Good fruit upon the farm or in the garden may be justly 
regarded as the best indication that the agriculturist has been 
mindful of his duty to his family and himself, while he has 
been considerate in looking to the sure and liberal pecuniary 
reward which will follow the labors of the careful, industrious 
and intelligent cultivator. The growing of fruits is not only 
an attractive pursuit in which men become intensely enthusi- 
astic, but it is profitable employment. Hence, under favora- 
ble circumstances, every desirable point for raising fruit 
should be speedily and thoroughly improved." 

"If the Board of Health of large cities," says a judicious 
writer, "could have power to regulate the prices of fruits at 
certain seasons of the year, without establishing a bad princi- 
ple or precedent, benefit would follow; and it would be a 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

grand thing to place in their hands a fruit fund for the pur- 
chase of fruits to be plentifully distributed among the poor. 
Good fruit, especially peaches and apples, during the latter 
part of summer, keeps the blood cool and prevents feverish- 
ness. The juices of fruits dilute the blood and keep it in a 
proper condition of fluidity, quite as well if not better than 
water. They also keep the kidneys in a high degree of 
health — a recommendation that cannot be given to any sort 
of artificial drink, not even to water, except it be pure and 
soft. It is well enough to disinfect streets and places with 
carbolic acid, chloride of lime, &c, but it would be better to 
stave off epidemics by making people too healthy to be as- 
sailed by them, and this, plenty of good fruit will help greatly 
to do," 

If "Agriculture is the nursing mother of the arts, and till- 
age and pasturage the two breasts of the State," "fruit cul- 
ture" must come in as furnishing a good supply of the nour- 
ishment. An esteemed writer, Col. John J. Werth, who has 
exhibited no little horticultural literature and good judgment, 
says, in an address to the Virginia Horticultural and Pomo- 
logical Society: 

"But while it is indispensable, under present discourage- 
ments, to offer directly profitable results in money actually 
received, to stimulate the zealous pursuit of any enterprise 
whatever requiring money, yet we would not be at a loss to 
find important encouragement for the cultivation of all fruits, 
small and large, for home consumption, by almost all classes 
who till the soil, if their value could be rightly appreciated 
as an economical and healthful, and, may I not venture to 
add, an elevating element of subsistence. There is good rea- 
son to believe that if our Southern people could be induced 
to limit their consumption of animal food, and proportionately 
increase their consumption of fruit, there would be a gen- 
eral prevalence of better health and more elastic tempera- 
ment. It can scarcely have escaped the common observation 
of those who have mingled with other nations of the earth, 
at their own homes (or where they were congregated in suffi- 
cient proportions on other soils to encourage the indulgence' 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

of their native tastes), that those communities of mankind 
who habitually subsist, to a large proportion of their diet, on 
animal food, are strikingly deficient in that activity and buoy- 
ancy and elasticity which mark the character of the vegetable 
and fruit-consuming classes. The difference is not all, nor 
nearly all, due to climate, as is generally supposed. The 
Spaniard and the Frenchman occupy nearly similar climates, 
and are very different in their temperaments. The former is 
the grosser feeder, and lacks the activity and elasticity of the 
latter. The Irish consume less meat than the British, and 
here again we find the vim and buoyancy of character largely 
predominant in the vegetable class. The Mexican and Cen- 
tral American have lived on beef until they are a mass of 
immobility, and have not the energy to pay the slight tribute 
of labor which their teeming soil demands for the abundant 
production of fruit and vegetables. And so on, through the 
various nations of the earth, I have no doubt that careful en- 
quiry would establish the rule that energy and activity and 
elasticity of temper, and, consequently, a higher grade of 
rational enjoyment, are marked characteristics of those who 
subsist mostly on the lighter diet of fruit and vegetables. 

"But beyond this, there is an urgent appeal, just now, 
arising from our peculiar condition and surroundings. We 
are not raising anything like meat enough, within the present 
arbitrary restriction of our State lines, to subsist our popula- 
tion ; and, until something happens to enable the white men 
of the South to check the universal spirit of plunder which 
pervades the negro population, it is in vain to hope that we 
shall increase our domestic production of animal food. Here, 
then, we find a market at every man's door for fruit and 
vegetables, to substitute the enormous consumption of meat, 
purchased from beyond our borders. And what is more cer- 
tain, more economical, more healthful elements of subsistence 
are not to be found than are furnished under the various 
modes of preparation, which secure to us throughout the year 
all the large and small fruits of our climate, and which it is 
within the reach of all who have a few acres of land to culti- 
vate and preserve. 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

"An eminent horticulturist of Massachusetts has practi- 
cally found that pears, by carefully selecting a rotation of 
kinds as to their period of maturity, may be placed on the 
table every day in the year in their naturally ripened condi- 
tion. But this extreme success is not necessary. It is only 
important to preserve in some form, the fruits of the summer 
and fall, until they are succeeded by the productions of re- 
turning spring. October finds us gathering grapes and apples 
and pears and peaches from the branch, and May renews 
the rotation with the strawberry crop. 

"And as far as small fruits and the preservation of all 
kinds are concerned, we find an additional inducement to 
their culture in the adaptation of women and children to fill 
most of the employments involved in the pursuit. There 
seems to me, therefore, no sufficient reason why the small 
cottager should not, in Virginia and in most of the Southern 
States, as well as in France, surround himself with these 
healthy and delightful products of our soil; and high conside- 
rations of patriotism suggest that every inducement of pre- 
cept and example, encouraged by the gratuitous distribution 
of trees, vines, plants and cuttings in a small way, should be 
held out to this class of our people, to invite them to this 
branch of horticulture. 

"If there is anything in these considerations, they present 
encouragement to us to devote a share of our time and atten- 
tion and labor to the culture everywhere, and by all, of some 
varieties of fruit, without stopping to enquire whether they 
will pay as an article of trade, if we can economically con- 
sume them at home. We commend this view of horticulture 
to the earnest consideration of the people of the South and 
other portions of our country ; and trust that while we are 
active in seeking out and distributing information to encour- 
age the vigneron and fruit-grower for market, we shall not 
forget, by 'line upon line and precept upon precept,' to en- 
force upon our people of all conditions and everywhere, to 
plant and carefully cultivate the best fruits adapted to their 
climate, wants and appliances/' 

The great pleasure and profit arising from a choice collec- 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

tion of fruit is already becoming appreciated in our country, 
and especially in lower Virginia ; and many orchards of fine 
fruit, judiciously selected, are now being cultivated in many 
portions of the State. Some are bearing fruit which Avould 
compare with that of any State in the Union, or perhaps in 
the world. Those who examined the splendid specimens of 
apples raised in the Valley of Virginia and exhibited at the 
late Augusta County Fair by Mr. Robert McCormick, Jones 
and others, will readily conclude that the Valley is the home 
of the apple, although in high flavor and aromatic juices, the 
Piedmont region may excel. Notwithstanding the severity of 
the drought of the year 1869, the exhibition of apples at the 
Virginia State Fair by those reliable and intelligent nursery- 
men, Messrs. Allan & Johnson and Franklin Davis & Co. and 
other gentlemen, was almost all that could be desired, as it 
regards size, flavor and variety; but the grand exhibition of 
the American Society at Richmond in 18/1 surpassed any 
other display in fruit culture. 

We wish to press this point, and recommend all who pro- 
pose to plant trees to invest some little care and labor, and a 
little money, all to the amount of one dollar or less, for each 
young tree for the first year, and say twenty-five cents for 
each year afterwards, which would answer and not be extrav- 
agant. Trees thus attended to would soon realize a profit on 
the investment. In a very few years each tree would yield a 
profit equal to the interest of $100 or $200, and this interest- 
bearing fund would be increasing for a length of years, grow- 
ing and maturing all the while, even while the farmers were 
asleep, abroad, or otherwise occupied. 

In an address delivered some years ago before the Ameri- 
can Pomological Society by Mr. H. F. French, of New 
Hampshire, we find the following suggestive remarks : 

"The fact that this (apples) is* the most profitable crop 
which can be cultivated among us, is well understood. It is 
a fair estimate in this part of the State (Exeter), that ten 
barrels of winter apples will generally sell for as much money 
as a ton of the best hay. Hay has been considered for many 
years the most profitable crop that can be raised for sale in 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

this section of the State, and it has borne a price, for ten 
past years, not upon the average above ten dollars per ton." 

Mr. R. F. Williams gathered from an orchard of one acre 
only, the present year, from grafts set four years ago in very 
old and decayed trees, two hundred barrels of first-rate 
Baldwin apples. This statement is more valuable as showing 
how readily old trees may be changed from producing worth- 
less fruit to the production of that which is of the best quality, 
than as giving evidence of a remarkable product. 

To show how long a time is required to bring trees from 
the nursery into bearing, I will give another statement, which 
is about a fair example of the success of good cultivation 
among us : 

"John A. Lowe, Esq., of Exeter, set sixty trees about 
three years from the bud in his orchard in the spring of 1843, 
and forty more in the fall of the same year. They bore a 
few apples in 1847 and 1848. In 1850 he gathered six 
barrels; in 1851 twenty-one barrels; and in 1852 fifty bar- 
rels of fruit of the best quality." 

A writer in the New England Farmer states that he knows 
"an orchard of forty Baldwin apples that yielded more than 
three hundred barrels of fruit of the best quality the past 
season, and about the same quantity in the season of 1850." 

He says farther, "The ground about these trees has been 
kept in a perfectly pulverized state for half a dozen years or 
more, and manured like a garden." It should be borne in 
mind that the Baldwin usually produces every other year 
(unless highly manured). 

It would be a fair estimate that fifty trees, which would 
stand upon an acre at the distance of about thirty feet apart, 
would produce an average annual crop of sixty barrels of 
apples, worth at least sixty dollars. It is not uncommon to 
see a single tree bear ten barrels of fine apples, and instances 
have occurred where sixteen barrels have been gathered at 
once from a single tree. At the lowest rate of product that 
any man in his senses, who has ever properly cultivated an 
orchard in this country, would estimate as a common crop, an 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

apple orchard will give four times as much profit as the same 
quality of land in grass or hay with less cost of cultivation. 

In regard to the use of apples for stock, Mr. French says: 
"No accurate experiments have been tried by which the value 
of apples for cattle and swine has been ascertained. This, 
like so many other important agricultural questions, has been 
left to be guessed out by Yankee shrewdness. 

" Most observing men believe now that apples of all kinds 
are very valuable for milch cows and swine. The general 
impression is that sweet apples are, for such purposes, more 
valuable than sour, although an analysis, I believe, shows 
little difference in their constituent elements. The opinion 
has been confidently expressed by intelligent farmers that 
sweet apples are of more value for stock than the same quan- 
tity of potatoes. The ' Grreen Sweet' is, of all others, the 
apple to be cultivated for stock. Such food is not required 
till winter, and this variety will last till the 20th of May, 
which is pasturing time in this State." • 

If apples are proper food for stock in winter, they are 
equally proper at all other seasons ; and where pasture and 
grass are scarce, they can be profitably used during summer 
and fall, especially for hogs, and they are of advantage to the 
orchard by consuming the defective and wormy apples as they 
fall, thereby aiding in the destruction of insects alike inju- 
rious to the fruit and to the trees. 

We predict that soon a large and more regular trade will 
be opened for Southern fruit, independent of that raised for 
home consumption, and that no product of our soil can yield 
so liberal a return for the same amount of labor and capital 
as our crop of apples. Even at the low price of one dollar 
and fifty cents per barrel, which is lower than any price yet 
reached with us, the culture of this fruit pays twice, at least, 
the profit of any of our crops, including wheat or tobacco. 

We quote further from Mr. French's valuable communica- 
tion: "For reasons which are not easily understood, the ap- 
ple seems extremely sensitive as to changes of climate. A 
variety which thrives well in New England often fails in New 
York, while the favorite apple of New York, the New Town 



INTRODUCTION". 13 

Pippin, cannot be raised in our part of New Hampshire." 
(The same rule applies farther South.) "A different list is, 
therefore, necessary for each locality, to be determined upon 
by careful observation of the actual success or failure of each 
variety." [These list's we propose to prepare and include in 
this work, so that the farmer, with the advice of his nursery- 
man, may make such judicious selection of trees to suit his 
purposes and location, as may be desirable.) 

"In planting an orchard, regard should first be had to 
home consumption, so that the best variety of each season 
may be produced, and not a profusion followed by a famine." 

In the preparation of lists of apples which have been proved 
in the South to be abundant bearers and of first quality, and 
which will probably, with such additions as every man will 
make, with two or three varieties, seedlings, perhaps, from 
the old homestead, which taste better to himself than any 
body else, be found a sufficient variety for market and for 
all useful purposes at home. "Except to the mere amateur, 
a great variety is a source of great trouble and little profit," 
whether intended for market or home consumption or both. 

In a lecture by Dr. John A. Warder, of Cincinnati, deliv- 
ered January 13th, 1868, we find the following appropriate 
remarks on the subject of fruit culture: 

"Upon the present occasion, I propose to occupy your at- 
tention with a few general remarks upon the following ques- 
tions : 

"Why do not our farmers have a plenty of fruit? 

"Why should not all who live in the country grow fruit 
crops just as they now produce grain, grass and live stock? 

"The first question may be answered very readily, for 
most of those who have no fruits, it is simply because they do 
not try to have them ; and this is the very natural result of 
their ignorance of the means of obtaining an abundance of 
those blessings upon almost every farm in the Urdted States. 

"The latter question may be answered by enumerating 
some of the great advantages of fruit growing. These are 
primarily the health of the families of the producers ; where 
fruits are freely consumed upon the table at all seasons of the 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

year; next, the pleasure attendant upon their propagation, 
their culture, and above all, the satisfaction derived from the 
harvesting and consumption of these products. 

"It is a well-established axiom in the medical profession, 
that the regular consumption of fresh, well ripened fruit, is 
conducive to health ; and it is also a fact that the farmers of 
our country are not so well fed as they should be. This is no 
body's fault but their own. True, they cannot have so great 
a variety of meats as those who reside in towns and villages, 
but they may enjoy the greatest profusion of fresh vegetables, 
and a succession of ripe fruits the year round, if they will 
but choose to take the trouble to plant and cultivate even a 
small portion as a garden and orchard. 

"Aji appeal on behalf of fruit culture may also be made 
to the more sordid motive of money making. No crops that 
are produced from the soil yield so great profits. The pro- 
ductiveness of small pieces of land appropriated to fruit cul- 
ture is truly wonderful, and the money results in some cases 
are so great as to be worthy of the fashionable term 'fabu- 
lous.' " 

One of the leading objects in presenting this work to the 
public, is to induce our farmers to direct more special atten- 
tion to fruit growing. It has been, we think, fully demon- 
strated in the preceding pages, that fruit culture is to be an 
occupation, and a blessing, under Providence, to our people, 
and will materially aid in our recuperation from the damages 
and devastation sustained by the late war. The advantages 
as to good health, good living, good morals and pecuniary 
results that will be regarded as highly satisfactory, will 
all come in as inducements to our farmers to set out and 
cultivate orchards. Care in the selection of varieties of 
well-established merit, suitable for the location, comprising a 
selection that will insure a succession for the year round, is of 
the first importance ; the earliest varieties being cultivated for 
market by those located in or near maratime districts and rail- 
roads leading to our large cities, especially to those north of us. 
There can be no failure if our farmers will avail themselves 
of the simple and cheap means within their reach, to surround 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

themselves with the beautiful scenery and rich rewards of 
teeming orchards. One of the fathers in horticulture says : 
"If possible, have a good orchard. When I say, I heartily 
desire that every man should cultivate an orchard, or at least 
a tree of good fruit, it is not necessary that I should point 
out how much both himself and the public will be in every 
sense the gainers." 

In concluding these introductory remarks, the author begs 
leave again to be allowed to return his profound acknowledg- 
ments for the many favors of his correspondents in different 
parts of the South and of the United States, for their nume- 
rous suggestions and timely and valuable aid in compiling and 
writing this work. 

The author also desires to say, that his attention has not 
been directed to the various and bulky compilations and quan- 
tity of materials within his reach, in order to deal in contro- 
verted theories, but rather to a critical selection of facts; and 
that this work has not been undertaken with a view merely to 
increase numerous volumes already extant of a similar com- 
plexion, but to furnish the more Southern and Western por- 
tions of our country with special and particular information 
suited more particularly to their soil and climate, no where to 
be found in contemporary or other authors, and to embody 
and present all the most useful, practical and well attested 
improvements, the result of more recent culture, observation 
and discovery. 

Hoping from the advantageous circumstances in which the 
author is placed, and from his untiring efforts to produce a 
valuable treatise, the public will not be disappointed; that the 
spirit of improvement now abroad may extend to Fruit 
Culture; that the hills and vales, fence-corners and waste 
places, as well as select places, may be adorned in spring with 
blooming trees and orchards, and in summer and fall with 
bending boughs laden with choice, luxuriant fruit for home 
and for market purposes, alike beneficial to the producer, the 
merchant, the consumer and the country. 

J. F. 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

ITS PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, NATURAL ;HISTORY, 
HABITS, &o. 



The Apple-tree, the common, or Pyrus 31alus, L., (^pple, 
Sax., Apfel, Ger.,) a tree arranged by Linnaeus under the 
genus Pyrus, it is too well known in this country to require 
a minute description. It frequently grows to the height of 
twenty or thirty feet, and produces a great variety of fruit. 
Botanists are of opinion, that the wildling crab-apple of the 
woods and hedges, is the original kind, from the seeds of 
which the apple now cultivated was first obtained. 

The Apple-tree by cultivation has become indefinitely various 
and progressive, producing in a wild state, the small and bit- 
ter crab, and under high and successive cultivation, such fruit 
as the splendid Albemarle Pippin. The varieties of this spe- 
cies in this country, are now multiplied to some thousands in 
the different States; all having been accidentally procured from 
the seed or kernels of the fruit, or increased by the various 
modes of grafting upon crabs or any kind of apple stocks. 

Notwithstanding the numerous sorts, it is believed that it 
would be best for all parties, that nurserymen should confine 
their stock to forty or fifty varieties; and having these well 
attested and adapted to the different regions, their different 
locations would enable them to furnish suitable catalogues for 
all parts of the country, and prevent the many vexatiou's fail- 
ures and losses sustained by farmers and others, caused by 
improper selections. 

The fruit of the Apple-tree arrives at full growth in suc- 
cessive order from June to the first of November, but comes 
to maturity only after gathering; and many of the winter 
kinds may be preserved until the next Spring. 

The fruit of the wild crab tree of our woods and forest is fiatish, 
about one inch in diameter, yellow when ripe, or of the color 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 17 

of polished brass, and possesses an agreeable fragrancy. Per- 
haps no tree presents a gayer appearance in Spring, when 
dressed in green, and with clusters of flowers of a most pleas- 
ing blush. The petals may be compared to flakes of white 
wax, faintly tinged with the finest carmine ; though some 
trees have flowers of a damask rose color. It grows in 
woods and hedges, and flourishes better on declivities and in 
shady places than in open exposed situations or on boggy soils ; 
its blossoms appear in the month of May. 

This parent stock of all varieties of apples is well adapted 
as a stock for grafting, because its roots are neither killed by 
frost nor eaten by field mice ; grass and even corn will grow 
beneath it. The wood of the crab tree is tolerably hard, turns 
clean on the lathe ; and will receive a polish which renders it 
very desirable. The acid juice of the fruit is commonly term- 
ed verjuice, and is employed in recent sprains and in other 
cases as an astringent repellent. This fruit is eaten by horses 
cows, sheep, goats, and particularly by hogs, which are ex- 
tremely fond of it. 

As this species quickly attains its growth, it deserves to 
form a part of every plantation ; and we have only to regret 
that it is not more generally cultivated, as it will in a short 
time amply compensate the trouble and expense bestowed on- 
setting it. 

In dyeing, the bark of the crab-tree has been employed for 
forming ^ yellow and especially a citron color. Dambourney 
relates, that the dry shavings of this wood imparted a fine 
chestnut brown to wool prepared by a solution of bismuth. 
Turners and cabinet makers also use the wood. 

Trees that come from Southern countries contain more 
aqueous juice than those that grow in the North, and trees 
from the South, when transplanted to a more Northern cli- 
mate, are more liable to perish by frost. The remedy for 
this, is to deprive such trees of their leaves partially and 
gradually before they fall of themselves, so that by the be- 
ginning of Winter, the trees should be almost bare. This 
thickens the juices and renders them less liable to be injured 
by frost. 

3 



18 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

In cookery, apples are used in various ways and forms, 
constituting elegant table deserts. They may be sliced and 
fried in lard or after meat ; they make fine pies and tarts, and 
the famous dowdy or family pie ; may be made into excellent 
dumplings, sliced into puddings, boiled in rice, &c; are fine 
roasted or baked ; and the apple butter made from this fruit 
in the Valley of Virginia, East Tennessee, and in some of the 
Northern States is a delightful dish for any season. Dried 
apples keep well, and are a valuable article of trade. 

As to the medical qualities of apples, consumptive persons 
have been greatly relieved, and even permanently cured by the 
persistent and regular use of this fruit in some form or other. 

Apples serve as an excellent fruit for the desert, the kitchen 
and for making cider, brandy and vinegar ; and stock of almost 
every kind thrive and fatten, when allowed free use of this 
most valuable of all fruits. 

Concerning the physical properties of apples, it deserves 
to be stated, that besides their aromatic qualities, they are 
wholesome and laxative, when fully ripe. In diseases of the 
breast, such as catarrhs, coughs, asthmas, &c, they 
are of considerable service ; for beneficial purposes, how- 
ever, they ought not to be eaten raw, but either roasted, or 
.stewed, or boiled; they also may be usefully employed in de- 
coctions, which if drank plentifully tend to abate febrile heat, 
as well as to relieve pectoral complaints. The author has 
himself found the use of ripe Apples and Peaches, both cooked 
and raw, a most admirable, convenient and palatable regulator 
of the bowels, and by their use has been happily relieved of 
chronic diarrhoea. 

In treating of the general properties, as well as the relative 
salubrity of fruit, we shall in this place, only add, that the 
injudicious practice of promiscuously allowing it, whether 
ripe or unripe, to children and infants is very reprehensible, 
though their liberal use, when fully ripe, is rarely followed by 
any injury. On account of its acidity, they are not able to 
bear it in excess ; and their digestive powers become too 
frequently impaired at the expense of other secretions; such 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 19 

as insensible perspiration, and the discharges by stool, both of 
which are thus unnaturally promoted. 

All fruit given to children should be given perfectly ripe. 
Mothers and nurses should likewise bestow especial attention' 
to the cleanliness of the peels, which as they generally pass 
through different hands, or may have been stored in improper 
places, require to be previously wiped or washed. 

With regard to their sensible properties, apples have been 
divided into spicy, acidulated and watery. To the first class 
belong the various species of rennet, which possesses a most 
delicate flavor, contain the least proportion of water, and on 
account of their vinous nature, are not apt to excite flatu- 
lency. Pippins, on the contrary, though affording more nu- 
triment than the former, are more fibrous, and consequently 
require a more vigorous stomach to digest them ; hence they 
may be ranked under the second class. Lastly, those sweet 
and tender apples which are very juicy and palatable are the 
least fit to be eaten in a raw state, unless with the addition of 
bread or biscuit. When baked or dried in the open air, they 
make an excellent substitute for raisins or plums, in puddings, 
pies and other dishes prepared of flour. ' 

Sour apples may be mueh improved both in taste and 
quality, by either baking, or digesting them in a close vessel 
by steam over a slow fire ; thus the saccharine principle is dis- 
engaged, and they undergo a speedy and complete change. 

While very young, no tree should be suffered to bear a full 
crop of fruit ; and if they abound with blossoms, the fruit 
should be gathered as soon as formed ; leaving only half a 
dozen of the produce, to ascertain the size and quality. By 
this measure, the trees will not only produce larger and finer 
fruit, but by being kept clear, the leading and collateral 
branches will every year become more vigorous. Nor ought 
any young plant or newly engrafted tree to be permitted to run 
mop-headed, as it will make no progress till each branch has 
acquired a determined leader, for, if the growth of a tree 
be prevented, it will be extremely difficult to throw such 
energy into the system, as to enable it to grow freely. 

All vegetables in respect to their propagation are viviparus or 



20 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

oviparus. The live progeny of vegetables consist of their buds, 
which rise on their branches in the bosom of each leaf, or on its 
long caudex extending down the bark of the trees, or which 
rise on the bulbs, knobs, wires, or scions, from the broad cau- 
dex on the roots of herbaceous plants. The egg progeny of 
■ vegetables consist in their seeds with the previous apparatus 
of the flower, and concomitant nutriment in the fruit and 
cotyledons." 

Fruit trees are sometimes attacked by a disease called 
" crab," especially after transplanting them from the nursery : 
it destroys particularly the inner bark, by reducing it to a 
blackish powder, not unlike the smut in wheat. 

Various conjectures have been formed as to the origin of 
this disorder which is often very destructive, especially to apple 
and pear trees ; but none appear to us to be satisfactory. It 
is, however, very probable that it arises from the inattention 
of the gardener or orchardist, when transplanting young trees, 
by placing the Northern side of the trunk towards the South ; 
where the powerful rays of the sun parch, and in a manner 
burn the tender bark which was grown on the north side. 
This change of situation to a different point of the compass 
may account for the disease, and the suspicion is somewhat 
Confirmed by the circumstance, that the disease generally 
makes its first appearance on the south sides. It may 
also originate from injuries done to the tree, such as blows, 
scratches, &c. The remedy for trees thus affected will appear 
in its proper place. 

Linnaeus considers the apple and the quince as a species of 
the pear tree, or Pyrvs, all the varieties of which are hardy 
and will succeed in any common garden soil, if planted in a 
free situation ; they are propagated by grafting and budding 
upon any pear stock, occasionally upon quince, and sometimes 
upon white thorn stocks. 

Apples of any kind may be reared in the manner above 
prescribed, and according to Dr. Anderson, the pure paradise 
sitock is the best graft. They will not thrive, however, in a 
very low and moist soil, but a rich friable loam is best adapt- 
ed to their health and rapid growth. 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 21 

Mr. Forsyth in his treatise on fruit says : I have in nu- 
merous instances seen the stock have great influence on the 
fruit grafted thereon, in respect to bearing, size and flavor ; 
and also, on the durability of the tree, particularly in the 
instance of a number of Vandevere apple trees, the fruit of 
which was so subject to the bitter rot as to be of little use; 
They were engrafted fifty years ago, and ever since, those of 
them having tops composed of several different kinds, though 
they continue to be more productive of fruit than any other 
in my orchard, yet are subject to the bitter rot, the original 
and well known affection of the fruit of the original stock. 

Experience has fully proven that, although seedlings from 
apples will scarcely ever produce fruit exactly similar to the 
original, yet some of them will produce excellent fruit. Some 
will even be superior to the apples from which the seeds were 
taken. This fact shows that seeds planted from trees of a 
strong and rapid growth, and largest and best fruit, should 
be allowed to bear fruit before grafting, as they will seldom 
fail to bear good fruit, or at any rate, fruit of some good 
quality. 

In reference to the latent powers of man and the soil, says 
a modern writer, " A kind providence has given man moral, 
mental and physical powers according to the circumstances of 
his existence, and placed him upon the earth, containing 
productive resources sufficient to maintain that existence. 
Within both are dormant energies requiring development and 
invigoration, for which man alone is responsible." It has 
been well said that he who makes one blade of grass grow 
where none grew before is a public benefactor. If so, how 
much greater is he that makes one healthy vigorous apple or 
peach tree bud, bloom and bend with its luscious load of 
grateful, health-giving fruit, where none grew before. In 
doing this work he finds the occupation pleasant, the time 
well spent, home made more attractive and pleasant, and all, 
with very little expenditure of money. 

Trees are divided into two principal classes, namely, fruit and 
timber trees. The growth of trees is a subject of conside- 
rable importance ; and as to fruit trees, but few accurate ex- 



22 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

periments have been made, in order to ascertain their annual 
increase in height and bulk, and this would seem to be a dif- 
ficult job, as so much depends on care and culture. In the 
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society for 1788, 
Mr. Barker states, as the result of his observations, that oak 
and ash trees grow nearly in equal proportions, increasing 1 , 
or 1-| inches every year. He remarks that when the annual 
growth amounts to 1 inch in height, a coat one-sixth of an 
inch in thickness will accrue to the tree. 

The health and vegetation of trees may be greatly pro- 
moted by scraping them ; by cutting away the cankered parts, 
and by washing their stems, at least once a year in the months of 
February or March, (and later in the Spring.) Hence Mr. For- 
syth, (English author) in his ingenious treatise on " the Culture 
and Management of Fruit Trees," recommends fresh cow-dung 
mixed with urine and soap suds; and the composition to be applied 
to the stems and branches of fruit, forest or timber trees in the 
same manner as the ceilings of rooms are white-washed. This 
operation, he observes, will not only destroy the eggs of in- 
sects, that are hatched during the Spring and Summer, but 
also prevents the growth of moss, and if it be repeated in 
Autumn, after the fall of the leaves, it will kill the eggs of 
those numerous insects, which are hatched during that season 
and Winter ; thus contributing to nourish the tree, and to pre- 
serve its bark in a fine and healthy state. 

In common with other objects of vegetable creation, trees 
are liable to a variety of diseases, which, if not timely attend- 
ed to, eventually destroy them. We shall in this place in- 
troduce a concise account of Mr. Forsyth's improved method 
of curing injuries or defects in either fruit or forest trees. 

Mr. F. directs all the decayed, hollow, loose, rotten, injured, 
diseased and dead parts to be cut away, 'till the knife extend 
to the sound or solid wood, so as to leave the surface per- 
fectly smooth ; then, to one hundred gallons of human urine, 
and one bushel of lime, add cow-dung sufficient to bring it to 
the consistence of paint. 

After having carefully brushed off all the moss, the infected 
trees should be anointed with this mixture, about the latter 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 23 

end of March ; which simple precaution it is said, fully an- 
swers the desired effect. The quantity of the composition 
may be made up to correspond with the quantity required for 
the trees to be anointed and made to the consistence of thick 
paint, and it should be laid on with a painter's brush to the 
thickness of one-eighth of an inch and the edges finished off 
as thin as possible. Next, five parts of dry pulverized wood- 
ashes should be mixed with one part of bone dust or ashes, 
and then put into a tin box, the top of which is perforated 
with holes ; the powder must be sprinkled over the surface of 
the composition, being suffered to remain half an hour for 
absorbing the moisture, when an additional portion of the 
powder should be gently applied with the hand, till the whole 
plaster acquire a smooth surface. As the edges of such ex- 
cisions grow up, care should be taken, that the new wood 
should not come in contact with the decayed; for which pur- 
pose, it will be advisable to cut out the latter, in proportion as 
the former advances ; a hollow space being left between both, 
in order that the newly grown wood may have sufficient room 
to extend, and fill up the vacancy, so that it in a manner forms 
a new tree. By this process old and decayed trees have in 
the second Summer after its application, produced fruit of the 
best quality and finest flavor ; nay, in the course of four or 
five years, they yielded such abundant crops, as young trees 
could not have borne in 15 or 20 years. By such treatment, 
likewise, large aged elm-trees, all the parts of which were 
broken, having only a small portion of the bark left on the 
trunk, shot forth stems from their tops, to the height of 
above thirty feet, within six or seven years after the compo- 
sition had been applied. 

Thus it appears, that both forest and fruit trees may be 
renovated and preserved in a flourishing state ; while the lat- 
ter may be rendered more fruitful than at any former period. 
We regret that our limits confine us to the present short ac- 
count, and refer the reader to Mr. Forsyth's treatise above 
cited ; which is illustrated with thirteen beautiful engravings. 

Under the articles fruit, fruit trees, orchards, &c, some ob- 
servations on these subjects will be given in the course of this 



24 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

work, from the treatise of the ingenious Mr. Bucknal, and, 
on the present occasion, we will introduce some highly impor- 
tant remarks by the same valuable and practical writer. 

ENGRAFTED FRUITS. 

■ " Some friends have requested that I would introduce another 
paper on the nature of the valuable varieties of engrafted 
fruits, as they are of opinion that the essay in the 17th vol. of 
the Transactions of the Society is not sufficiently extended'for 
a subject so important to fruit growers, and those interested 
in the production of fruits. As a proof of my willingness to 
make the orchardist as perfect as I can, I beg you to present 
my compliments to the Society, with the following elucidations. 

" This is a subject in rural economy which ought to be 
much better understood than it is, in order to enable the 
planters to judge of the sorts proper to be planted, as an 
article of pleasure, profit, or recreation, as much of the credit 
of the plantation must arise from judiciously choosing trees 
of the best, new, or middle aged sorts, and not of the old worn- 
out varieties, which latter cannot, in the planting of orchards 
in common situations, ever form valuable trees, and must end 
in the disappointment of the planter. 

" Engrafted fruits I have before said, and I now repeat, 
are not permanent. Every one of the least reflection must 
see that there is an essential difference between the power and 
energy of a seedling plant, and the tree which is to be raised 
from cuttings or elongations. The seedling is endowed with 
the energies of nature, while the graft or scion is nothing 
more than a regular elongation, carried, perhaps, through the 
several repeatings of the same variety ; whereas the seed 
fpm having been placed in the earth, germinates and be- 
comes a new plant, wherever nature permits like to produce 
like in vegetation ; as in the oak, beach, and other mast-bear- 
ing trees. These latter trees, from each passing through the 
state of seedlings, are perfectly continued, and endued with 
the functions of forming perfect seeds for raising other plants 
by evolution, to the continuance of the like species. 

"This is not the case with engrafted fruits. They are 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 25 

doomed by nature to continue for a time, and then gradually 
to decline, till at last the variety is totally lost and soon for- 
gotten, unless recorded by tradition or in old publications. 

"Reason, with which Providence has most bountifully blest 
some of our species, has enabled us, when we find a superior 
variety, to engraft it on a seedling or wilding stock, or to 
raise plants from layers or cuttings, or even to raise the roots, 
and thus to multiply our sources of comfort and pleasure. 
This, however, does not imply that the multiplication of the 
same variety, for it is no more, should last forever, unless the 
species will naturally arise from seed. 

"Nature, in her teaching, speaks in very intelligible lan- 
guage, which language is conveyed by experience and obser- 
vation. Thus we see that among promiscuous seeds of fruits 
of the same sort, one or more arise, whose fruits should be 
found to possess a value far superior to the rest in many dis- 
tinguishable properties. From experience, also, we have ob- 
tained the power, by engrafting, of increasing the number of 
this newly-acquired tree; can change its country, give it to a 
friend, send it beyond the seas, or fill a kingdom with the 
fruit, if the natives are disposed so to do. Thus we seem to 
have a kind of creative power in our own hands. 

"From the attention lately paid to the culture of engrafted 
fruits, I hope we are now enabled to continue a supposed hap- 
pily acquired tree, when we can find it, for a much longer 
duration than if such variety had been left in the state of 
unassisted nature; perhaps I may say for a duration as long 
again, or something more. After these sanguine expectations, 
I may reasonably be asked, to what does all this amount? for 
here there is no direct permanency, .... and why? The 
why is very obvious, .... because the kernels within the 
fruit, which are the seed of the plants for forming the next 
generation of trees, will not produce their like.* I will allow 
they will do so accidentally, but nothing more can be de- 
pended on. 

"For example, suppose we take ten kernels or pips of any 
apple raised on an engrafted stock : sow them, and they will 
produce ten different varieties, no two of which will be alike; 



26 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

nor will either of them closely resemble the fruit from whence 
the seeds were collected.* The leaves also of those trees, raised 
from the same primo-genus or parent stock, will not actually 
be a copy of the leaves of any one of the varieties or family 
to which each is connected by a vegetable consanguinity. I 
intentionally used the word actually, because a resemblance 
may be found, though not much of that is to be expected. 

" I beg that what has been last mentioned may not be taken 
as a discouragement to attempts for raising new varieties. I 
was obliged to speak very strongly, in order to place the cul- 
ture upon its true foundation. I think it need not be ob- 
served, that there is no acquiring a new variety but through 
the means of a seedling plant ; and, therefore, whoever wishes 
to succeed must attempt that way, or wait till others in their 
plantations may more fortunately produce it. 

"In choosing seeds, that apple is most likely to produce 
the clearest and finest plants whose kernels are firm, large 
and well ripened. The size of the fruit is not to be regarded ; 
for large apples do not always ripen their fruit well, or rather 
for cider, the small fruits are generally preferred for making 
the strongest, highest-flavored liquor. And from what I have 
been able to collect in the cider-countries, it is there the opin- 
ion that an apple something above the improved crab promises 
the best success This advantage also attends the prac- 
tice : if there are no valuable apples raised from that attempt, 
these wildings will make excellent stocks to graft upon. 

" Gentlemen who actually employ themselves in attempting 
to acquire new varieties, should remember that they ought to 
select all the sets, from the bed of apple-quick, whose 
appearance is in the least degree promising, and plant 
them together; at such a distance as to allow each to 
produce its fruit, which will happen in a very few years. 
My friend, Mr. Knight, who undoubtedly is the first 
in actual exertions for procuring these happily acquired 
new varieties, has had two plants bear fruit at six years and 
one at five. (In Virginia, apple trees will bear considerable 
crops at that age.) The cider districts have offered several 
premiums for securing new varieties, and some with good effect. 
Premiums have been given both to Mr. Knight and Mr. Alban. 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 27 

"When the new variety is to be raised from a valuable 
admired apple, I would recommend the placing these seeds in 
a garden pot, filled with mould from an old melon bed; car- 
rying the pot into a retired situation near the water, and giv- 
ing attention to rear the plants to as large a size as is conve- 
nient within eighteen months. With this view, the pot should 
be placed in the green-house the first winter, or in a sheltered 
position ; and, when the plants are afterwards to be set out in 
the spots, they should not be placed under the drip of trees, 
or much exposed to the winds. 

" Two instances have been mentioned, the improved crab, 
and most admired apple; but prudence says, try all sorts, 
and something probably will arise; and the process is attended 
with little trouble or expense to a person who constantly re- 
sides in the country; yet, after all this scientific care, the ap- 
ple may want flavor, and be in other respects nothing better 
than a common wilding. 

" It is an undoubted fact, and worthy of observation, that 
all the different trees of the same variety have a wonderful 
tendency to similarity of appearance among themselves ; and 
that the parent stock, and all engrafted from it, have a far 
greater resemblance to each other than can be found in any 
part of the animal creation ; and this habit does not vary to 
any extent of age. 

" As an encouragement in attempting to increase the num- 
ber of new and valuable fruits, we can prove that the Golden 
Pippin is native English. The Red Streak, a seedling of Here- 
fordshire, if not raised, yet was first brought into notice by 
Lord Scudamore, and was for a long time called Scudamore 8 
crab. The Stire apple was accidentally raised in the forest of 
Dean, in Gloucestershire, and took the name of Forest Stire. 
The cider made from this apple was the strongest the country 
ever produced, according to any living record. The Hagloe - 
crab, the best cider fruit now remaining, was discovered in 
the parish of Ecloe, on the banks of the Severn, and about 
sixty or seventy years ago ; many scions were taken from this 
tree by Mr. Belamy, and engrafted on seedling stocks about 
Ross. These are now grown old ; and to ascertain the age 



28 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

of the variety, I went with Charles Edwin. Esq., to Eclose, 
in hopes of seeing the primo-genus of this family. The 
proprietor of the estate acquainted Mr. Edwin that it had 
ceased to hear, years ago, and was cut down. Those at Ross 
are but poor bearers now, and I shall suppose the variety must be 
one hundred and forty years old, though Marshal who wrote in the 
year 1786, mentions these trees were prolific, and he supposes 
the sort to be about 80 years old ; but from present expe- 
rience, it must be much more. The Tinton Squash Pear is 
of Gloucestershire ; the Barland and Old-field were near Led- 
bury, Herefordshire. The two last pears clearly bear the 
names of the two fields where they were raised. The Bar- 
land fell about six years ago, visibly from weight and lon- 
gevity, which was supposed to have been about 200 years. There 
have been many other names of estimation handed down to 
us, though the realities are now totally worn out, and have 
ceased to exist. Can any better proof be desired, that en- 
grafted fruits are not permanent, than the regret we feel for 
the loss of these old valuable fruits. 

" To making my paper short as convenient, I have dwelt 
only on the apple ; yet all the engrafted fruits are under 
the same predicament of the seed not producing its like, and 
the offspring in time falling into nothingness of growth, and 
bearing, though that space of time must certainly depend on 
the natural longevity and hardiness of the sort, soil, position, 
care, &c. All these are more fully expressed in the papers 
published in the different volumes of the transactions of this 
Society, and the two volumes of the Orchardist, wherein the 
whole system is extended, to form a rational culture for the 
management of standard fruits. 

" It should be remembered, that, as I am now alluding to 
the state of actual permanency, fifty years are to be counted 
as nothing ; and, as often as we come to that point, we are 
compelled to resort to our first assertion : " That engrafted 
fruits are not permanent, they being continued from elonga- 
tions, and not raised as a repetition of seeds. This is the 
only rational way, as yet introduced, of accounting for the 
loss of the valuable old varieties of fruits. Should a better 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 29 

system be introduced, I shall readily adopt it : but this suffi- 
ciently answers the purposes of the planter. 

" Some years ago, from due investigation and thorough 
conviction, I propagated this principle, and it was published 
in the 17th vol. of the Society's Transactions, in the follow- 
ing words : " All the grafts taken from this first tree, or 
parent stock, or any of the descendants, will for some gene- 
rations thrive ; but when this first stock shall, by mere dintof old 
age, fall into actual decay, a nihility of vegetation . . . the de- 
cendants, however young, or in whatever situation they may 
be, will gradually decline, and from that time, it would be 
imprudent, in point of profit, to attempt propagating that 
variety from any of them. This is the dogma which must 
be received. I do not expect a direct assent, neither do I 
wish it ; for it should be taken with much reserve ; but it is 
undoubtedly true." These considerations should stimulate 
us in searching after new varieties, equal, or perhaps superior, 
to those of which we regret the loss. 

" Observe that from the time the kernel germinates for 
apple quick, should the plant be disposed to form a valuable 
variety, there will appear a regular progressive change, or 
improvement, in the organization of the leaves, until that 
variety has stood, and grown sufficient to blossom and come 
into full bearing ; that is, from the state of infancy to maturity; 
and it is this and other circumstances, by which the inquisitive 
eye is enabled to form the selection among those appearing likely 
to become valuable fruits. (We would also remark that all young 
trees, when disposed to be valuable, in addition to the luxu- 
riance exhibited in the leaves, buds and free growth, have soft, 
tender wood, offering little resistance to the pruning-knife, 
whilst the knife is apt to lose its keen edge when applied to 
seedlings of slow growth.) But from the time that the new 
variety or selected plant, compared with all the engraftments 
which may be taken from it or any of them, these shall show 
a most undeviating sameness among themselves. 

" It is readily allowed, that the different varieties of fruits 
are easily distinguished from each other by many particulars, 
not only respecting their general fertility, and the form, size, 



30 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

shape and flavor of the fruit ; but also the manner of the 
growth of the tree, the thickness and proportion of the twigs, 
their shooting from their parent stem, the form, color and con- 
sistence of the leaf, and many other circumstances by which 
the variety can be identified ; and where it is possible to 
engraft each variety upon the same stock, they would still 
retain their discriminating qualities, with the most undevia- 
ting certainty. 

" The proper conclusion to be drawn from the statement in 
the last paragraph, is this, that were any to put the thought 
in practice, on a full grown, hardy or crab stock, it would 
produce an excellent proof that engrafted fruits are not perma- 
nent. For if twenty different varieties were placed together, 
so that each might receive its nurture from the same stem, 
they would gradually die off in actual succession, according to 
the age or state of health of the respective variety, at the 
time the scions were'placed in the stock ; and a discriminating 
eye, used to this business, would nearly be able to foretell the 
order in which each scion would actually decline. Should it 
also happen that two or three suckers from the wilding stock 
had been permitted to grow among the twenty grafts, such 
suckers or wilding shoots will continue and make a tree after 
all the rest are gone. A further consequence would result 
from the experiment : among such a number of varieties, 
each of the free growers would starve the delicate, and drive 
them out of existence, only so much the sooner. It must be 
observed, that this supposed stem is the foster-parent to the 
twenty scions, and real parent to the suckers ; and those the 
least conversant with engrafted fruits know the advantage ac- 
quired from this circumstance. And here it is worth while re- 
marking, that a Gascoyne or wild cherry, will grow twice the 
size that ever an engrafted cherry did. 

"By an experiment we have had in hand for five years, it 
will appear that the roots and stem of a large tree, after the 
first set of scions are exhausted or worn out, may carry another 
set for many years ; and we suspect a third set, provided 
the engrafting is properly done and the engrafter chooses a 
new variety. Now the Ribstone Pippin of Yorkshire, is the 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 31 

favorite, as being a free grower and good bearer, with fine 
fruit. This, however, may be certainly depended on, that 
when a new apple is raised from seed, if a scion were placed 
in a retired situation, and constantly cut down, as a stool in a 
copse-wood, and the apple never suffered to fulfil the intention 
of nature in bearing fruit, the practitioners of the following 
ages may secure scions from that stool, to continue the variety 
much longer. Hence, though I have written as much as is in 
my power against permanency, yet I have taken some pains to 
assure the planters, that forecast, selection, pruning, cleanli- 
ness, and care, will make the orchards turn to more profit for 
the rising generations, than what they have done for the last 
hundred years. 

" To place the nature of varieties in its true light, for the 
information of the public, I must maintain, that the different 
varieties of the apple will, after a certain time, decline, and 
actually die away, and each variety, or all of the same stem 
or family, will lose their existence in vegetation ; and yet it 
is a well known fact, mentioned in the 17th vol. of the Trans- 
actions, that after the debility of age has actually taken pos- 
session of any variety, it will yet thrive by being placed 
against a southern wall and treated as a wall fruit. Who, 
however, can afford to raise cider at that expense as a matter of 
curiosity, to prove, that when the vital principle in vegetation 
is nearly exhausted, a superior care and warmth will still 
keep the variety in existence sometime longer ? 

" It should be understood that the external air of Britain is 
rather too cool for the delicate fruits, which is the reason why 
in the Orchardist, I lay such a stressjn procuring warmth of the 
trees, by draining, shelter and manure. It would now be lost 
time to attempt to recover the old varieties as an article of 
profit. 

"If I have not expressed myself in this essay on the nature of 
varieties, with as much clearness and conviction as might have 
been expected, it should be considered, that it is an abstruse 
subject, very little understood, and requiring at first some 
degree of faith, observation, and perseverance. The prejudi- 
ces of mankind revolt against it. They are not disposed to 



32 ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 

allow the distinction of nature ; and they imagine, that, in the 
act of engrafting or multiplying, they give new life ; whereas 
they are only continuing the existence of the same tree, stick or 
bud. Observe what . I said before ; the seed of the apple, 
when placed in the earth, germinates, and unfolds itself into 
a new plant, which successively passes through the stages of 
infancy, maturity and decay, like its predecessors. I might 
say all created nature is similar in this respect ; though from 
the circumstance that varieties are much longer lived than 
man, the plants have appeared to be possessed of eternal 
powers of duration ; nothing sublunary, however, which pos- 
sesses either animal or vegetable life, is exempt from age 
and death. 

" Within the last twenty years I have travelled many hun- 
dred miles, and conversed with the most intelligent men in each 
country ; and I now want to convince mankind for no other 
reason than because it is their interest so to believe, that 
there is in creation an order of beings (engrafted fruits) so 
formed, that we have the power of multiplying a single vari- 
ety, to what number of trees we please ; that the first sets 
arise from a small seed ; that the next and descendant sets 
are propagated by engraftings or from cuttings, layers, &c. ; 
and, although these trees may amount to millions, yet, on the 
death of the primo-genus or parent stock, merely from old 
age, or nihility of growth, each individual shall decline, in 
whatever country they may be, or however endued with youth 
and health. I say they shall gradually begin to decline ; and 
in the course of time, or of centuries, to those who would 
prefer that expression, the whole variety will scarcely have a 
single tree remaining to show what the fruit was. Let those 
who are not disposed to assent to the statement, ask them- 
selves what has become of the old lost varieties ? did they die, 
or did malicious men cut them up ? 

" I, who am firmly convinced of the truth of what I have 
advanced on this subject, have no doubt but that the same 
would happen by engrafting on the oak or beach, if the mast 
raised from the engrafted tree did not produce the like ; for 
there the question turns. 



ORIGIN OF THE APPLE TREE. 33 

"Is it not known that the woodman, in setting out his sap- 
ling oaks, always selects new seedling plants, and never con- 
tinues one upon an old stool ; and, if he should so blunder, that 
tree, from the stool will never have freedom of growth, 
nor the size or firmness of timber equal to the new raised 
plant. 

" I wish I could persuade my friends, that with the same 
attention with which the woodman acts, the planter is to raise 
his orchard from the young fruits which thrive in the neigh- 
borhood, or are in health and full bearing in the country 
from whence they are to be brought. 

" The fruit grower should look to selection, cleanliness and 
care. To me it is a circumstance perfectly indifferent, whether 
he is to. use Mr. Forsyth's composition or Mr. Billingham's 
boiled linseed oil, or my medication. I only maintain that 
the wounded parts of trees want something to destroy the 
insects and vermin, and heal the wood, from which the trees 
are kept in health. 

" Let those who are blessed with fruit plantations, attend to 
their preservation, and not leave them to the state of unas- 
sisted nature." 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 



Propagation, in general, signifies the act of multiplying 
the kind or species ; but, in this place, we propose to treat 
only of vegetable nature. 

Beside the usual modes adopted by the gardeners and agri- 
culturists of propagating trees, shrubs, &c, there are two other 
methods of multiplying plants, in a manner equally novel and 
surprising. 

1st. Planting the Leaves was accidentally discovered 
by J. F. Henry, a German, who died at Angsburg, in 1726. 
He reared many large trees, by setting healthy leaves in flower- 
pots containing sifted garden mould, so that one third of the 
leaf was covered with earth. Over these pots he suspended 
vessels filled with water, which gradually dropped upon the 
small plants beneath ; thus, the young stems began to strike 
root and grow like those reared from kernels. 

2nd. By Covering Horizontal Sprigs, or Branches with 
Moss. — This ingenious method of multiplying plants was an- 
nounced by J. C. Wendland, an eminent gardener in Germany, 
who described it for the benefit of the public nearly in the 
following words : 

" Such shrubs as cannot conveniently be propagated by 
seeds, sets or by layers, may be easily multiplied, especially 
if they have young branches near their roots. For this 
purpose, the earth around the stem ought to be previously 
loosened, elevated, and made nearly level with the lowermost 
sprouts : these should next be laid on the ground horizontally, 
(without cutting or breaking them,) then" fasten with small 
wooden hooks ; covered with moss; and frequently watered, 
so that the latter may closely attach itself around the branches. 
The operation may be performed either in the Spring or 
Autumn ; if in the former season, the moss should never be 
suffered to become dry ; if in the latter, it must be covered 
with straw to protect the layers from the effects of frost." 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 35 

When the moisture has softened the jjflfd of the sprouts, 
young roots will strike through the nBJ^jnto the soil, and 
numerous plants may thus be obtain<|K|n the course of one 
Summer sufficiently vigorous to be removed to the nursery. 
No biennial parent-branches, however, need be employed ; as 
these will produce new saplings only in the second year. 

PROPAGATION BY SEEDS. 

Propagation by seeds is the natural and easiest way to 
rear trees and most other vegetable productions ; but few spe- 
cies of fruit trees, however, will produce the same variety and 
quality from the seeds or kernels, and the greater part will 
prove very inferior and crabbed fruit : some, notwithstanding 
will be very good, and a few may equal the parent in every res- 
pect, and bear a general resemblance in growth, foliage, &c. 
There are a few varieties of peaches, however, that may be 
reared from the kernels, with most undeviating sameness, 
especially the different varieties of the Heath. Propagation 
by layers or cuttings is not, and cannot well be practiced in 
rearing the Apple or Peach and the various modes of budding 
and grafting are resorted to for that purpose. 

PROPAGATION BY BUDDING OR INOCULATION. 

Bud, in botany, is the embryo or rudiment of a plant, 
growing on stems and branches of trees, and covered with 
scales, or with a resinous varnish, to protect it from the winter 
cold, and from the depredations of insects. Buds proceed 
from the extremities of the young shoots, and along the 
branches, sometimes single, sometimes two by two, either 
opposite or alternate, and sometimes collected in greater num- 
bers. In general we may distinguish three kinds of buds ; 
the leaf-bud, the flower-bud, and that containing both in one 
covering. The first species contains the rudiments of several 
leaves, which are variously folded over each other, and sur- 
rounded by scales. The second species or flower bud, con- 
tains the rudiments of one or several flowers, folded and cov- 
ered in a similar manner. This is called the eye of the bud. 



36 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

The third sort, which is the most common of any, produces 
both flowers and leaves. Buds, together with bulbs, which 
are a species of buds generally seated on or near the root, are 
termed Mbernacula, a term signifying the winter quarters 
of the embryon shoot. 

As plants are supposed to bear a striking analogy to ani- 
mals, they may not improperly be reckoned both viviparous 
and oviparous; in which view seeds may be considered as 
vegetable eggs, buds as living foetuses for infant plants, which 
renew the species as certainly as the seed. 

As each bud contains in itself the rudiments of a plant, 
and would, if separated from its parent vegetable, become in 
all respects similar to it, Linnceus, to shew the wonderful 
fertility of nature, has made a calculation, from which it ap- 
pears that in a trunk scarce exceeding a span in breadth, no 
less than ten thousand buds may be produced. How great, 
then, must be the number of plants which are capable of being 
raised from one large tree ? 

The flower-buds of many trees, says Dr. Darwin, arise 
immediately from the terminating shoots or spurs of the pre- 
ceding year, and are either accompanied with leaf-buds, or 
separately, as in apple and pear trees. Others proceed from 
the shoots of the present year, alternately with leaf-buds, as 
those of vines, and form the third or fourth of the new shoots. 
They differ from the leaf-buds, because they perish when 
their seeds are ripe without producing any addition to the 
rtree; the leaf-buds, on the contrary, decay in autumn, and 
itheir condexes are then gradually converted into alburnum or 
/Sap-wood, over which the new leaf-buds shoot forth their con- 
♦dexes and radicles, or insert them into it, and gradually fab- 
ricate the new bark and root fibres. 

Leaves, in botany, are defined to be the organs of motion, 
or muscles of a plant : they constitute the lungs of each in- 
dividual plant. 

.Budding- is a mode of propagation not only applicable to 
.fruit trees, but to ornamental trees and shrubs, including the 
arose, and there are some fruits that can scarcely be multiplied 
<any other .way. It consists in removing a bud with a portion 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 37 

of the bark from a tree and inserting it in a slit of the bark 
of another tree. The season for performing this operation is 
July and August, or September will answer for peaches, and 
is early enough for most Southern latitudes, when the buds 
destined for the following year are completely formed in the 
axils of the leaves, and when the portion of the bark parts freely 
from the wood beneath ; the buds to be preferred being those 
on the middle of the shoot. There are many forms of bud- 
ding, but that which is the simplest and most easily performed 
need alone be described or practiced. 

The buds upon the last year's growth will produce young 
shoots, while those of the second year's growth are apt to be 
blossom-buds, and will not make twigs. 

Budding is regarded as a modification of grafting, and is 
performed while the stock is in vigorous growth. 

Mode. — " The operator should be provided with a budding- 
knife, in which the cutting-edge of the blade is rounded off at 
the point, and having a thin ivory or bone handle, like a paper 
folder, for raising the bark of the stock. A horizontal or 
transverse incision is made in the bark, quite down to the 
wood, and from this incision a perpendicular slit is drawn 
downward to the extent of perhaps an inch. The slit has 
now the resemblance of the letter T ; a bud is then made 
ready, or is cut from the tree that is wished to be propagated, 
having a portion of the wood attached to it, so that the whole 
may be an inch and a half long. The bit of wood is then 
gently withdrawn, care being taken that the bud adhere 
wholly to the bark or shield, as it is called. The bark on each 
side of the perpendicular slit being cautiously opened with 
the handle of the knife, the bud and shield are inserted ; the 
upper tip of the shield being cut off horizontally, and brought 
neatly to fit the bark of the stock at the transverse incision.- 
Slight ties of moistened bass or candlewick are then applied, 
and in about a month or six weeks these ligatures may be 
removed, when, if the operation has been successful, the bud 
will be fresh and full, and the shield firmly united to the wood ; 
the next Spring a strong shoot is thrown out from this bud, 
and to this the stock is headed down in the course of the Summer. 




38 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

The stock (the next spring as the buds begin to 
unfold, up to the time the leaves are half-grown) 
should be cut off to within two or three inches of 
the bud, and, when the bud has grown up some 
inches and inclines from the stock, tie it to the 
stump. All sprouts must be kept off, and in the 
early part of July, in this latitude, cut off the 
stump even with the budded stock or sprout that 
has grown up, as at a. See cut. 

PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 

In gardening, the term Grafting (Grreffer, Fr.) signifies the 
taking a shoot from one tree and inserting it into another, so 
that they may closely unite and become one trunk — the graft 
bearing its own fruit, being sustained and nourished by the 
sap of the stock or tree into which it has been inserted. When 
thus united, the shoot, branch, or scion, determines the kind of 
fruit. 

Grafting has been practiced from the most remote antiquity ; 
but its origin and invention are differently related by natu- 
ralists. The great aim of this useful art is, to propagate val- 
uable and curious sorts of fruit trees; to insure the growth of 
similar kinds, which cannot be effected by any other method : 
for, as all the good species of fruit have been accidentally ob- 
tained from seeds, many of these, whon sown, will degenerate 
and produce bad fruit. But when shoots are taken from such 
trees as bear good fruit, they will never change their kind, 
whatever be their stock or the tree on which they are grafted. 

Mr. Bradley observes, "that the stock grafted on is only to 
be considered as a fund of vegetable matter which is to be 
filtered through the scion, digested, and brought to maturity, 
as the time of growth in the vessels of the scion directs." A 
scion, therefore, of one kind grafted on the tree of another 
may be rather said to take root in the tree on which it is 
grafted, than to unite with it ; for it is obvious that the scion 
preserves its natural purity, though it be nourished and fed 
by a mere crab. 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 39 

The experience of Mr. J. Cooper, of New Jersey, is op- 
posed to this generally adopted theory. He says, " experience 
for more than fifty years has convinced me that, although 
seedlings from apples will scarcely ever produce fruit exactly 
similar to the original, yet many of them will produce excel- 
lent fruit : some will even be superior to the apples from which 
the seeds were taken. This fact has led me to plant seeds 
from the largest and best kind of fruit, and from trees of a 
strong and rapid growth ; and to let all young trees bear fruit 
before grafting, which produced an uncommon, strong shoot, or 
large, rich-looking leaf. .... I have seldom known them fail 
of bearing fruit having some good quality ; at all events, they 
make a stock to put any good kind on, which may afterwards 
present itself." 

In grafting or budding apple trees, it is best to perform the 
operation within or near the earth, of such kinds as produce 
an erect, strong stem ; but on such kinds as incline horizon- 
tally, or on small, weak shoots, the preferable mode is, to insert 
the bud or graft high enough to form a top. 

" I have, in numerous instances, seen the stock have great 
influence on the fruit grafted thereon in respect to bearing, 
size, and flavor ; and also on the durability of the tree, par- 
ticularly in the instance of a number of Vandevere apple trees, 
the fruit of which was so subject to the bitter rot as to be of 
little use. They were engrafted fifty years ago, and ever 
since, those of them having tops composed of several different 
kinds, though they continue to be more productive of fruit 
than any others in my orchard, yet are subject to bitter 
rot, the original and well known affection of the fruit of the 
the primitive stock. I have had frequent opportunities of ob- 
serving the same circumstance, in consequence of receiving 
many scions from my friends, which, after bearing, I have en- 
grafted, and the succeeding fruit uniformly partook, in some 
degree, of the qualities of the former, even in their disposition 
to bear annually or biennially." 

The grafts or scions with which the operation of grafting is 
effected should be of the last Summer's growth, from the out- 
side branches, firm and well-ripened, and selected from healthy, 



40 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

vigorous trees. The graft is always the middle part of each 
shoot, cut to five or six inches in length, or so as to have four 
or five good eyes, or buds, but should be preserved at full 
length till grafting time. 

The proper tools and other materials used in grafting are : 
1st. A strong knife for cutting off the heads of the stocks 
previous to the insertion of the graft; also a small fine toothed 
hand-saw in good order, for occasional use, for cutting off the 
heads of large stocks. 2. A common grafting-knife, or sharp, 
strong pocket-knife, for cutting and shaping the grafts ready 
for insertion ; also to slope and form the stocks ready for the 
reception of the scions. 3. A flat grafting firmer or chisel, 
with sloping basils, and small mallet for clefting large stocks. 

4. A quantity of new bass strings, candlewick or other pliable 
stuff for bandages for securing the grafts when placed above 
the earth, and promoting their . speedy union with the stock. 

5. A quantity of clay for applying closely round the grafts 
after their insertion and binding, to defend the parts from the 
influence of the sun, winds, and wet weather (this plaster is 
applied to grafts at the surface of the earth). According to 
Mr. C. P. Renolds, of Rochester, N. Y., a very good wax for 
grafting may be made with two pounds of resin, one pound of 
beeswax, and one pound of tallow. They should be melted 
together, poured into a tub of cold water, and worked with 
the hands, until soft and pliable, and as light colored as pos- 
sible, as dark wax is more liable to melt in the Summer's sun 
and run off. 

Some recommend using linseed oil in the place of tallow, 
but I think it makes too dark-colored a wax. 

Another grafting plaster or mortar that answers an excel- 
lent purpose, is prepared of strong fat loam ; or any other 
tough clay, to which may be added a fourth part of fresh 
horse-dung, free from litter, and a small portion of fine 
hay, cut, or hair, and a little water, well mixed : the whole 
should be properly beaten with a stick, and thus well incor- 
porated. 

This operation should be repeated according to the nature 
of the clay, and performed several times during the first day ; 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 41 

the composition being still moistened with water for six or 
seven days successively, at the end of which time it will be fit 
for use. 

There are various modes of engrafting, which are termed 
whip-grafting, or tongue-grafting, crown-grafting, saddle- 
grafting, root-grafting, check-grafting, side-grafting, and, 
lastly, grafting by approach or inarching. Besides this last 
mentioned, the following are the most commonly and success- 
fully practiced. 

1 st. Whip-grafting or tongue-grafting is generally performed 
in nurseries, upon small stocks, from a quarter of an inch to 
a half or a whole inch in diameter. The stock, scions or 
grafts, should always be of the same size, or approach as near 
to the same size as possible. They are both to be sloped off 
a full inch or more and then tied closely together. This 
method may be much improved by performing what gardeners 
call tounging or tipping ; that is, by making an incision in 
the bare part of the stock downward, and a similar slit in 
the scion upward; after which they are to be carefully joined 
together, so that the rinds of both may meet in every part, 
when a ligament or bandage of bass or candlewick is to be 
tied round the scion to prevent it from being displaced, and 
the whole is to be covered over or coated with the clay above 
described. 

Another description of this mode we copy, being an excel- 
lent article from Affleck's Farmers' and Gardeners' Alma- 
nack : 

"Although it is better for a farmer to go to a nursery, and 
there select the young trees he may require, yet every one 
ought to have a knowledge of grafting and budding — with this 
view, a sketch descriptive of the process has been prepared, 
and is here offered : 

" Stocks for grafting or budding are produced either by 
sowing seed, or from layers, suckers or cuttings; but the stock 
' must be of the same natural family as that to which the graft 
belongs, or have a close affinity to it. To use others — as the 
sycamore for the pear and apple, the walnut for the peach, 
&c. — may do as a matter of amusement or experiment, but 



42 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

can be of no permanent and real advantage. In grafting, 
mere propagation should not be the only object, for, to secure 
a permanent union between the stock and graft is of far more 
importance. For apples, seedlings of the apple and crab. 
Pears, those of the wild species or of the quince. Plums, 
seedlings of the common or wild plum. Cherries, seedlings 
of any free-growing wild variety. Peaches, on the stock raised 
from the seed. The apricot and nectarine, the larger sort of 
plums. 

" The season for grafting may begin by the middle of March 
and continue until the end of April ; the grafts being cut into 
lengths of four or five buds each ; the knife to be thin, small, 
and keen-edged. Cut off the head ot the stock and the base 
of the scion at a corresponding angle, so as to form, when put 
together, a neat splice ; the tip of the stock, if larger than 
the graft, is to be cut off horizontally. Next a slit is made 
downwards in the centre of the sloping cut in the stock, and 
a corresponding slit upwards in the face of the scion ; in ap- 
plying the scion to the stock the tongue formed in the base, of 
the former is inserted into cleft of the latter, "and so fitted 
that the inner bark may unite neatly and exactly on one side; 
the splice is then to be tied, or covered with clay or waxed 
bandage. 

" Cleft and Root Grafting. — Other methods might be 
mentioned, but it will suffice for our purpose to include cleft 
and root grafting : the former being adopted where the stock 
is larger than the graft, when the head of the stock is cut off 
and a perpendicular slit made, D, the scion being sloped on 
both sides, C, and inserted like a wedge into the cleft of 
the stock as at F. Root grafting is performed on a root a 
little thicker than the graft, and the more fibrous the better; 
a quantity of them may be procured in the fall and packed 
away in sand or earth in a cellar ; those from young, thrifty 
trees being most desirable; and, when grafted, they may be 
packed away in earth in a cellar until spring, when they may 
be planted out in nursery rows." 

We will here give another description of cleft-grafting or 
slit-grafting, as gardeners differently term it, so practical and 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 



43 




44 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

plain that any farmer may perform the operation without the 
least difficulty : It is performed upon stocks from one to two 
inches in diameter. The head of the stock being carefully 
cut off in a sloping direction, a perpendicular cleft or slit is 
to be made about two inches deep, with a knife or chisel, to- 
wards the back of the slope, into which a wedge is to be driven 
in order to keep it open for the admission of the scion ; the 
latter must now be cut in a perpendicular direction, and in 
the form of a wedge, so as to fit the incision in the stock. As 
soon as it is prepared it should be placed in the cleft in such 
a manner that the inner bark of both the stock and scion may 
meet exactly together ; two scions may be inserted if the stock 
is large. It is then to be tied with a ligature of bass, cotton- 
wick, or other pliable bandage, and clayed over, as is prac- 
ticed in whip-grafting, three or four eyes being left in the scion 
uncovered. The proper season for this mode of grafting is 
the same as the preceding, viz : February and March, although 
it will answer all through April. Towards the latter end of 
May, or beginning of June, the junction of the graft and stock 
will be completed, and the latter begin to shoot; when the 
clay may be taken off, and, in the course of a fortnight or 
three weeks, the bandages may be removed. 

" Extreme branch-grafting" or grafting over the top of an 
old tree, is a very great acquisition to those who take pleasure 
in cultivating good fruit. The process is copied from the 
Trans. Soc. Arts, London, and is as follows : 

" Cut away all the spray wood, and make the tree a perfect 
skeleton, leaving all the healthy limbs ; then clean the branches 
and cut the top of each branch off, where it would measure in 
circumference from the size of a shilling to that of a crown- 
piece. Some of the branches must, of course, be taken off 
where they are a little larger, and some smaller, to preserve 
the canopy or head of the tree ; and it will be necessary to 
take out the branches which cross other, and observe the 
arms are left to fork off, so that no considerable opening is to 
be perceived when you stand under the tree, but that they 

may represent an uniform head When preparing the 

tree, leave the branches sufficiently long to allow of two or 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 



45 



three inches to be taken off by the saw, that all the splintered 
parts may be removed. 

The trees being thus prepared, put in one or two grafts at 
the extremity of each branch; and put on the cement described 

below, and tie it with bass or soft strings Do not sever 

all the shoots, as, in case the grafts do not succeed, they may 
be wanted to re-engraft the next Spring. Additional grafts 
may be inserted in the sides of the branches, as at A, A, A, 
A, A, A, or where they are wanted to form the tree into a 
handsome shape. 




Cement for Grafting. — One pound of pitch, ditto resin, half 
ditto beeswax, quarter ditto hogs lard, quarter ditto turpen- 
tine, to be boiled together, but not to be used until you can 
bear a finger in it. 

It is objectionable to graft at short distances from the trunk 
or body of a tree, as the wounds are so large as to require 
several grafts, which cannot firmly unite and clasp over the 
stumps, and consequently these wounds lay a foundation for 
after decay; or, else, they diminish the growth of the tree, 



46 PROPAGATION OP PRUITS. 

whereas, upon this plan, they will be larger in three or four years, 
than before the operation. The annexed cut will give an 
idea of this plan to give a new top of superior fruit bearing 
branches to a tree, even if old and decayed. 

The following " new mode, as it was called, was long kept 
a secret in France. A limb of willow three or four inches 
thick was buried in a trench deep enough to receive it, and 
at the distance of every four or five inches holes were bored, 
into which grafts were inserted, care being taken to make the 
bark of the graft and the limb into which it was inserted, 
touch ; the lower part of the graft was pointed and the bark 
shaved off. The limb and the grafts were then covered with 
earth, and about two inches of the latter left above the sur- 
face. In process of time the limb rotted and the grafts took 
root. The different grafts were then dug up and trans- 
planted. 

The theory of grafting has been explained thus : " It is 
the inosculation of the vessels of the graft with those of the 
bark and alburnum of the tree, to which they are applied 
and bound. 

" In grafting, it is necessary to apply the bark which con- 
tains or consists of the caudex of the young scion, exactly 
to the bark of the branch into which it is inserted or 
applied ; and then all species of grafting succeeds, whether 
by excision or inoculation, or inarching. But I suspect where 
a single bud is inoculated, it has often failed from the ope- 
rator having selected a flotver-bud instead of a leaf-bud ; 
which probably unites its caudex with those of the stock with 
less vigor, and certainly dies, after it has ripened its seed ; 
or, by holding the bud in his mouth as he ascends the ladder, 
or while he makes the incision, and thus destroys it by heat, 
as I once observed A leaf bud may in general be distin- 
guished from a flower bud by its being sharper, pointed, and 
less spherical. 

Cleft grafting is sometimes performed in the following sim- 
ple manner, "You may cut, at or a little below the surface, 
any cion whose root is unconnected with the mother stock, 
and make a split in the stump, and sharpen your graft 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 47 

in the same way, and open the split and set it in the 
stump, but not perpendicularly — the last process, perpendicu- 
lar, is so apt to miss taking the sap ; but if you set your 
graft cross or quartering, you cannot miss. You will be care- 
ful to cover it with fine earth two or three inches deep, and 
you may depend on success." 

Root Grafting may also be successfully performed as 
follows : 

" When you commence grafting, you have nothing to do but 
dig around the root of the tree, in whose reot you intend to 
set — when you find a root half an inch in diameter, cut it 
loose from its mother and raise the outer end of it a little, so 
that you can make a split in it about an inch or more from 
the end — then sharpen the graft just at the joint, with one 
side a little thicker than the other, and open the split end of 
the root — cover it even at the surface with fine earth, and it 
will sometimes grow to the height of six feet in one Summer. 

Grafting Stone Fruits. — To be successful, the grafting 
of stone fruits must be done very early. The cherry needs 
to be grafted earlier than the plum, and the operation must 
be performed on both before the buds begin to swell. The 
peach will succeed by root grafting, if carefully done early in 
the Spring. It may be grafted in the usual way with some 
success. 

After Management. — In grafting, when the top of the 
stock is off, it is best not to rub off all the suckers as they are 
produced, and thereby thwart nature in her efforts to renew 
the lost top. Large stocks may suffer for want of sufficient 
top, if all the sprouts are cut off and kept off. Yet suckers 
must not be permitted to divert too much of the sap from the 
scions. It is best, after the scions have been well established, to 
cut or rub off the suckers occasionally, or spurr-in, that is, re- 
duce a portion at a time, so that the scion may not be impov- 
erished. Old trees, when grafted, should be deprived of all 
suckers that crowd or interfere with the scions, but small 
twigs of the old wood should here and there be left until the 
next year or second season. This will aid in sustaining the 
vigor of the stock and the health and luxuriant growth of 
the scions. 



48 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

Grafting Clay. — Take equal quantities of pure clay and 
fine fresh horse manure — if the clay be too strong, add a 
little sand — apply a ball of the mixture to the stock, completely 
covering it. It is kept in its place and supported by winding 
around it strips of old cloth, tow or other bandage. The com- 
position will work well with less horse manure, and, by adding 
fine hair, or, pure clay alone will answer if properly bandaged, 
in case it is not convenient to prepare grafting composition. 
It is, however, more troublesome to apply, and no surer than 
the wax composition. 

GRAFTING OLD ORCHARDS. 

The following treatise, by C. P. Renlods, Rochester, N. Y., 
written for that popular and valuable periodical, " The Rural 
Annual and Horticultural Directory, Joseph Harris, Roches- 
ter, on grafting old orchards, is deemed worthy of a place in 
this work. 

" There are but few old orchards in the country that do not 
contain some trees which are decidedly unprofitable. Some 
bear small, sour, natural fruit, only fit for cider or swine; 
others are grafted to poor varieties, or are shy bearers, or the 
variety may be good generally, but may not succeed on some 
soils or localities. Thus for various reasons nearly every 
orchard contains some trees that bring but little good fruit to 
the farmer, and he feels that, unless some improvement can 
be made, they may as well be cut down and no longer cumber 
the ground. 

Now, if a tree is healthy and thrifty, it would be unwise to 
destroy it, for it has a foundation of roots, and a structure of 
trunk and branches, that it would require many years for a 
young tree transplanted from the nursery to attain to. If 
we can only substitute for that inferior, nearly worthless fruit, 
fine, excellent, productive fruit, it will be far better than to 
destroy the tree. The science of grafting affords the means of 
changing that fruit within a few years. 

If a bearing tree produces tolerable, fair-looking, saleable 
fruit, although not of the first class, it would be impolitic to 
graft it over, for it would require several years before the 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 49 

grafts would bring in so large an income as the old kind, and 
there is some risk to run in grafting over an old tree. The 
grafts may fail, or the tree itself may die in consequence of 
cutting out so much of the top. 

It is to afford some suggestions how to avoid failure in 
grafting that this article is written." 

THE TIME FOR GRAFTING. 

We prefer grafting apple trees as early in April as the wax 
will work freely. If the work is properly done, no subsequent 
freezing will injure the grafts. I once grafted an orchard 
in the early part of April, and about the middle of the month 
the ground froze up quite solid, but the grafts succeeded re- 
markably well. 

GRAFTING WAX. 

A very good wax for grafting may be made with 2 lbs. 
of resin, 1 lb. beeswax and 1 lb. tallow. They should be 
melted together, poured into a tub of cold water, and worked 
with the hands, until soft and pliable, and as light colored as 
possible, as dark colored wax is liable to melt and run off in 
the Summer sun. . 

Some recommend linseed oil in the place of tallow, but I 
think it makes too dark colored a wax. 

GRAFTING. 

The first operation in. grafting is to saw off the limbs to be 
grafted, and this is a very important part of the operation. 

It is desirable to have the new top as low as possible, and 
many are induced to saw off large limbs as near the trunk as 
practicable in order to secure this end ; but it is very liable 
to result in the failure of the grafts and the speedy death of 
the tree. The end of the limbs will die first, and decay will 
soon extend down to the roots. Never saw off a limb more 
than two inches in diameter, and but few of that size. The 
safest way and the one most certain of success, is to allow 
the larger limbs to remain and graft their lateral branches, 
5 



50 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

thus, without elevating the top much above the original one, 
you graft only small limbs. A fine sharp saw should be 
used, so as to make a smooth cut and do the work neatly. 
Care should be used to hold the limb with one hand, while 
sawing it off with the other, otherwise it may peel down 
on the under side. Some three or four inches of the 
stump of each limb should be left to graft. It is a good plan to 
graft only a part of the tree the first year, selecting the most 
thrifty limbs, and taking two or three years to complete the 
tree. 

CUTTING AND PREPARING THE SCIONS. 

The scions should be of the past year's growth, cut from 
the outside limbs of a tree any time during the suspension of 
growth, but February or March is considered the best time ; 
tied up in bundles, carefully labelled, and laid away in the 
cellar in slightly moistened sand. An expert will cut the 
grafts at the time of grafting with success, but it is best 
to cut them before. 

Two buds should be left on every graft and using a sharp 
knife cut it to a wedge shape, leaving the side the lower bud 
is on a little thicker than the opposite one, so that the bark 
of the stock will be certain to press on the bark of the graft, 
and the barJc of each should exactly meet. 

SETTING THE GRAFT. 

With a grafting chisel, or an ordinary one, split the 
stock down about two inches, drive in a small wedge of wood 
or iron to keep the cleft open, until the scion or scions are in- 
serted ; set the scions so that the lower bud will be just inside 
the cleft, and the bark of the stock and scion join at the same 
point, as at this junction the sap flows from the stock into the 
graft, and withdraw the wedge. Where the stock is from one and 
a half to two inches in diameter, it is well to insert two scions, 
and in case both grow, the wezJcest should be smoothly cut off 
three or four months afterward. The wax should be immedi- 
ately spread on, so as to cover the end of the stock and its clefts, 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 51 

thereby excluding air and water. Spread it on pretty thick, 
for it is poor economy to be too saving of wax, if resin and other 
materials are very high. It is necessary to grease the fingers 
to prevent the wax adhering to them. 

AFTER TREATMENT. 

As soon as the growth commences in the grafted tree, the 
sap which formerly flowed through the severed limbs, will seek 
new channels, and numerous suckers will start in the vicinity 
of the grafts. These should be carefully rubbed off once a 
month. 

In case the grafts in . any of the limbs fail, one or more 
sprouts should be allowed to grow, to be grafted when of suf- 
ficient size. 

An old tree, thus grafted over, will come into bearing seve- 
ral years before a young tree transplanted at the same time, 
and bear much heavier crops. 

VARIETIES. 

In selecting varieties to graft, a somewhat different selec- 
tion would be made for a market orchard from what would be 
desired for home supply. 

If for market, a few only of the most productive varieties 
in the neighborhood, and the most saleable should be chosen. 
Other things being equal, a red apple always sells better than 
a green or yellow one, as buyers are influenced a great deal 
by the looks of the fruit. An orchard of Baldwins, in most 
localities, will probably yield a greater profit than almost any 
other variety, and a Greening, from its well known character, 
is always in demand. 

If an orchard is located near a large city, Summer apples 
often pay very well. The Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, 
Early Joe, Primate, Sweet Bough and Golden Sweet are the 
best Summer varieties for New York State, either for market 
or home consumption. 

1 Among autumn varieties, the Gravenstein deservedly ranks 
first; the Detroit Red, or Black' Detroit, is a large, product- 



52 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

ive and excellent variety; the Maiden's Blush, is a handsome 
yellow apple, with a blush, rather above medium size, and 
productive ; Wine, or Hays, a large striped handsome apple, 
of excellent flavor, 1 have found one of the best and most 
productive of late Autumn varieties, and it would command 
the highest price in any market. 

For Winter, in addition to the Baldwin and Greening, 
already mentioned, the Spitzenberg, where it succeeds well, 
is a good variety and meets with ready sale ; it is a long time 
coming into full bearing, but, when once established, is a good 
uniform bearer ; the Tompkin's County King is bearing the 
test of experience very well, and bids fair to take a high rank 
among Winter apples ; the Peck's Pleasant, a green apple, 
becoming yellow, with a red cheek, as it ripens, is a good and 
productive variety for late Winter. 

The above varieties would form a very good selection for 
Western New York, and with a few variations would be well 
adapted to many other parts of our country. 

PEARS— OLD WORTHLESS TREES. 

We have thus far spoken only of apples, yet nearly every 
old orchard or fruit yard has a number of old worthless pear 
trees, producing either bitter, astringent, natural fruit, or un- 
profitable grafted varieties. How many trees of the once 
unsurpassed Yirgaliere are left standing about the country, 
producing from year to year nothing but miserable cracked 
fruit. Man has not yet become wise enough to devise a 
remedy for this disease which affects several of our better 
pears ; so I suppose there is no other way than to substitute 
some other varieties for those so diseased. Happily, our list 
of good pears is becoming quite extensive, and there is no 
excuse for retaining an old favorite that has become worthless. 
In Summer we can enjoy such varieties as Doyenne d'Ete, 
Dearborn's Seedling, Tyson, Rostiezer, and Beurre Gifford; 
in Autumn, the Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, Belle 
Lucrative, Duchess d'Angouleme, Louise Bonne, Sheldon, 
Beurre d'Anjou, Beurre Diel, Beurre Clairgean, and Law- 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 53 

rence ; and in Winter, Vicar of Wakefield, and in some 
localities, Glout Morceau, and Easter Beurre, although I am 
of opinion that we are yet without a really good Winter pear. 
Pears generally bear grafting well, and will soon repay all 
outlay. They should be grafted a little earlier than apples, 
and in the same way. 

GRAFTING AND IMPROVEMENT. 

The address of J. R. Williams, Esq., before the Kalamazoo 
Agricultural Society, Michigan, contains much good sense. 
The following remarks on the ease with which every man may 
improve the quality of his fruit are applicable to the latitude 
and meridian of other places besides Western Michigan : 

" As it is with animals and vegetables, so it is with fruits. 
You can have stunted, astringent, crabbed fruits, or the most 
delicious. The precaution to send your neighbor's boy to snip 
a shoot from a fine tree, while you are stopping to decide the 
affairs of the nation with him — a few minutes taken to slide 
it under the bark, while you are waiting for a meal at home, 
will transform a useless shoot into a valuable tree, that shall 
furnish pleasure and nutriment to generations of men. A few 
minutes improved now and then, which would be otherwise 
idled away, will surround your dwelling with a grove which 
will prove of the greatest utility and delightful embellish- 
ment. I know men say they have no time, yet I have always 
observed that men who make this excuse have plenty of time 
to lounge at the tavern — plenty of time to run after some 
mountebank or charletan — plenty of time to litigate with a 
neighbor. No ! man ! plant the tree. It will grow while you 
sleep. Bud it. Graft it. Nurse it, and it shall gladden the 
sight and please the palate of people yet unborn, and you shall 
have a memorial of your existence, springing from the sod, 
when you shall repose beneath it. 

Some five or six years ago I found on the place where I 
reside some scrubs of natural fruit. The tops of my trees, 
my neighbors said, were too large to graft. But they were 
grafted with considerable labor. My predecessor might have 
budded or grafted each with a single germ, and saved me nine- 



54 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

teen twentieths of the time and expense. Another set of 
men told me the country was not natural for fruit. I put in 
the grafts, and for years have had an abundance of delicious 
fruit for the table or cookery, for myself and my neighbors 
in summer, fall, and winter, and I find none will eat more 
greedily than those who have no time to graft their own trees, 
and who curse the climate as unfit for fruit." 

SEEDS OF FRUIT TREES. 

In addition to what has already been said under the head 
of "Propagation by Seeds," a few more observations on this 
subject are deemed proper in this portion of our work. There 
are very few seedling fruits out of the great number grown, 
which are worth the place they occupy, as compared with 
those which are propagated by budding and grafting ; and no 
man should ever think of relying on these for the supply of 
fruits for market or for family use. Still every man desires 
to know how to propagate the different varieties of fruits from 
the seed, that he may be able to supply himself with stocks 
if he chooses, on which to graft or bud those he may select 
for his own culture. 

The seeds of apple, pear, and quince, may be treated sub- 
stantially alike. Those of the first may be taken from the 
fruit itself, or, if more convenient, washed from the pomace at 
the cider mill as soon as possible after the juice is extracted." 
(One objection to this, however, is, that generally there is a 
mixture of seeds in the pomace of all varieties, slow-growing 
and free-growing, healthy and unhealthy, dwarfish and scrub- 
by — and one would wish to propagate from the most thrifty 
and suitable. It would, therefore, be proper to select the 
kernels from the most healthy, free-growing varieties.) " It 
is common to obtain seeds from rotten apples. This may be 
done by mashing them in a plentiful supply of water, and 
running them through a sieve, by which the pulp will be car- 
ried off and the seeds retained. Pomace, may be washed by 
macerating in water, and then running it through a long spout, 
when the seeds will fall to the bottom and the refuse matter 
pass off. This is quite easy, when there is a small spring of 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 55 

water with a fall, or even a pump to be used. Pear seeds are 
difficult to manage, and should be taken from the fruit as soon 
after it is well ripened as convenient. The seeds of the poorer 
sorts, if free-growers, such as the common Choke pears, are 
most plentiful and best. 

The seeds of the apple, pear, and quince may be planted 
as soon as washed out, in good, moist, deep and rich soil, 
where they will vegetate freely with the ensuing spring. Those 
of the pear are the most difficult of all ; and the young plants 
are the most tender and precarious. It is of very little use to 
plant pomace of rotten apples, and none at all to plant rotten 
pears. Not one in a hundred, if in a thousand, will come. It 
does not destroy the vitality of the seeds to dry them and 
keep them over ; though we have found them more difficult to 
vegetate than those planted in time. They are often kept dry 
for several years, and then sown with success ; though a por- 
tion of them will always in. such cases fail. 

Pears and apples are ready for the bud the second year, 
provided they receive a good growth and are well treated. 

Though quinces may be grown from the seed, a better way 
is to use the cuttings. We have been nearly as successful 
with them as with those of the currant ; and they may be 
propagated in this way indefinitely. 

The kernels of the peach, cherry, and plum, after being 
taken from the ripe fruit, should be immediately planted in 
the seed bed, where they will make their appearance in the 
following spring. It is sometimes recommended to put cher- 
ries in sand and keep them until spring before planting out. 
This is an unsafe mode, from the fact that they are liable to 
start before planting; and, when this is the case, their removal 
is their destruction. If the kernels of either of these fruits 
are allowed to become dry before planting, they will not open 
again, though exposed to the frost and wet of Winter. There 
will be exceptions, and only such, to this, among the peach 
kernels, but none, or next to none, with either of the other 
named fruits. The vital powers of a peach seed are not de- 
stroyed in many years by being dried, and if the kernels are 
broken, the dried ones may be grown ; but without this care, 
not one in a hundred will germinate. 



56 PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 

After standing the first season in the seed beds, all these 
fruits should be removed to nursery rows, setting them therein 
about one foot or fifteen inches apart, having taken the pre- 
caution to cut off one half of the length of the tap-root. The 
peaches will be ready for the bud the first season, and the 
others, the second. 

Some prefer grafting these fruits, with the exception of 
the peach, but budding is so much easier, and quite as sure? 
that it will probably be adhered to instead, both by nursery- 
men and those who cultivate for themselves; though the 
former, as a saving of time, will practice all the usual modes 
of propagation." 

,THE NURSERY. 

Nursery, in horticulture, is a piece of land selected for 
raising or propagating plants and trees, with a view to supply- 
ing both gardens and plantations. 

As we state under distinct heads the mode of cultivation to 
be adopted in the rearing of plants, and more especially of 
the apple and peach tree, we shall communicate a few more 
general hints and directions in regard to establishing and 
managing a nursery : 

I. A nursery ought to be situated contiguously to the 
dwelling-house, that it may be conveniently inspected in every 
season ; it should likewise be in the vicinity of a brook or riv- 
ulet, in order that there may be a constant supply of water 
during the hot days of Summer. 

II. If intended for timber trees, the nursery should be 
formed on the ground which is designed for the future planta- 
tion, so that a sufficient number may be suffered to stand, when 
the others have been removed. 

III. With respect to fruit trees : 1. The soil ought to be 
fresh, rather dry than moist, and not richer than that into 
which they are finally to be transplanted. 2. It should be 
carefully enclosed, to exclude hares, rabbits, and all other 
animals that infest young plantations; after which the ground 
must be diligently cleared from all weeds, and trenched or 
ploughed deep, followed by a subsoil plough to the depth of 



PROPAGATION OF FRUITS. 57 

at least eighteen inches, in the month of July or August, so 
that the nursery may be ready for the reception of the young 
stocks early in October. 3. On the approach of the planting 
season, the soil must be laid as level as possible, and divided 
into equal quarters, which ought likewise to be subdivided 
into beds, wherein may be sown the seeds or kernel of the fruit 
intended to be reared. Lastly, when a sufficient number 
of stocks is obtained, they must be removed into such soils 
and exposed to such situations, as the nature of each fruit may 
require. 



ORCHARDS 



Orchard, in horticulture, is a tract of land appropriated 
to the growth of standard fruit trees, with a view to furnish a 
supply of the most useful kinds of fruit. 

Orchards are sometimes confined to the cultivation of 
apples, peaches, pears, cherries, or other particular fruit, 
especially if they are situated in the vicinity of railroads, canals, 
towns, or cities; more frequently, however, they are com- 
posed of all the trees before mentioned, with a double propor- 
tion of those bearing apples, which, doubtless, are the most 
plentiful and valuable fruit that may be easily preserved 
during the whole year. It is also the custom, when standard 
apple trees are planted from 30 to 33 feet apart, to place two 
dwarf trees at equal distances between them. 

The utility of a general orchard, both for domestic use and 
the sale of its production, is evident to the most superficial 
observer, independently of the beautiful appearance it presents, 
from an early period in the spring to late in the autumn, .... 
we shall, therefore, give some directions from 'practical writers 
and actual experience on the proper management of this most 
important department of economy. 

I.— EXTENT, SITUATION AND SOIL. 

The extent of an orchard should be in proportion to that of 
arable land, and the quantity of fruit required either for pri- 
vate use or the supply of the public market ; so that the planta- 
tion may consist of from half an acre to twenty acres. As, 
however, there are many friends of horticulture whose posses- 
sions confine them to a small compass, and who, nevertheless, 
wish to practice this useful art on a systematic plan, we have 
subjoined a cut in which the proper place of each tree is accu- 
rately represented, and the most valuable fruit trees are dis- 
tinctly pointed out. 



ORCHARDS. 59 

The situation and aspect may vary according to circum- 
stances, provided the soil is good. All low, damp exposures, 
however, ought to be purposely avoided, as no fruit trees will 
flourish there, nor can their productions be fine or well flavored. 
A moderately low situation, therefore, is preferable to elevated 
lands, provided it is dry, because it will be sheltered from the 
effects of tempestuous winds ; though a small declivity will be 
very desirable, especially if its aspect incline towards the 
east, southeast, or to the south ; which situations are always 
more eligible than a western exposure " 

(The above directions respecting the choice of situation for 
an orchard are inserted here to keep the reader in mind of the 
necessity of caution in following the directions of European 
writers on horticulture. Ample reasons will be given in the 
course of this work for preferring even a northern situation 
for both apple and peach trees in this country.) 

It is a well known fact that in those western parts of the 
United States, which have a high exposure to the winter's 
blasts, the northern sides of a ridge or mountain arrive sooner 
and more certainly at a state of perfect vegetation than the 
south sides, which are laid open to the power of the sun. Some 
account for this phenomenon as follows : they suppose that the 
southern exposure to the vehement rays of the sun, during 
the infant stages of vegetation, puts the sap in motion at too 
early a period of the Spring, before the season has become 
sufficiently steady to afford nurture and protection to the veg- 
etating plant, blossom, or leaf; and, when in this state the 
first efforts of vegetation are checked by the chilling influence 
of cold nights, and such changeable Aveather as the contest 
between Winter and Spring is ever wont to produce in their 
apparent struggles to govern the season On the con- 
trary, the northern exposures, which are not so early presented 
to the vivifying influence of the sun, remain, as it were, in a 
torpid state until the more advanced period of the Spring, 
when all danger of vegetation being checked is over. Mr. C. 
Yancey, of Amherst county, Virginia, who was remarkable 
for his fine orchards and management of fruits, always pre- 
ferred the north side of a lofty mountain for his peach orchard. 



60 ORCHARDS. 

Another gentleman observed, tliat during a hard winter he 
saw a particular tree, in a row of the same kind and growth, 
preserved through the mere accident of its having been paved 
with oyster shells. 

It is also to be remarked that the southwestern mountains 
of Piedmont Virginia, which are not very high, are noted for 
the production of fine fruit.* 

The apple, peach, pear, and cherry arrive at the greatest 
perfection, not only on all the hills, declivities, and valleys 
adjacent, but from foot to top, on both north and south sides of 
these mountains. As fine fruit grows on the north sides and 
top as can be produced in any country. It is also observable 
that a line, thermal belt, perhaps, it might be called, ranging 
about midway the south sides of the mountains expand vege- 
tation some eight or ten days earlier than at the lowest or 
highest parts, being sheltered from the high north and north- 
west winds of the one and the vernal frosts of the other. 

A correspondent, when writing a friend in Albemarle county, 
in the section above referred to, states that he found all the 
peaches had been killed by frost in the peach orchards in the 
valley near the mansion, while they had escaped, and were 
bearing in great abundance at another part of the estate higher 
up the side of the neighboring mountain. 

With respect to soil any common field, or pasture, which 
produces abundant crops of corn, grass, or culinary vegeta- 
bles, may be chosen for laying out an orchard. If it be of a 
rich loamy nature, it will be of great advantage ; though any 
soil of good quality may be prepared for the purpose ; but it 
must be neither too wet or heavy; nor too light or dry; it 
should be soft, easily worked, and have at least one spade deep 
of vegetable mould. 

Cole, in his American Fruit Book, says, "soils have a pow- 
erful effect in the modification of fruit, so much that some are 
large, fair, and of the greatest excellence on one soil and 

*An intelligent Pennsylvauian who had paid great attention to fruit, 
and who had traveled through many States of the Union, recently stated 
that he regarded the Piedmont region of Virginia as decidedly the best 
portion of the United States for the production of fine apples. 



ORCHARDS. 61 

worthless on another. They also vary the time of ripening, 
and materially affect the tree in growth, health, size, and lon- 
gevity. The choice of a proper soil is, doubtless, not suffi- 
ciently attended to. Orchardists of judgment and experience 
agree, that apples growing in a loose soil produce much more 
rich and generous liquor, than those that grow in a stiff clayey 
soil; but, if cultivation and mulching is properly attended to, 
provided the soil is well drained, the most satisfactory growth 
and fruiting may easily be obtained from such 'stiff, clayey 
soil.' ' The author is of opinion that, if properly managed, 
it cannot be excelled — it only requires such manures as have 
a tendency to loosen the soil, and more frequent and better 
cultivation. 

In regard to clayey soils, a writer says: "I have visited 
many fruit raisers to examine their orchards and the products. 
The evidence obtained leaves no doubt in my mind, but that a 
clayey loam is the only soil which will admit the highest de- 
gree of cultivation for the apple without endangering its keep- 
ing qualities." 

In the "Southwest Mountain " section of Virginia, just re- 
ferred to, the soil is of a fine Spanish-brown color, approach- 
ing to red — when wet, very tenacious — when dry, spongy and 
puffy; and, when new or fresh, produces the largest and finest 
crops of corn, oats, tobacco, and wheat, without manure. 
This is the character of the soil that produced the "Albemarle 
JPippin" and the "Nelson Pilot apple," the most valuable of 
all winter apples. 

The rich alluvion deposited by annual floods; the sandy 
slopes of the low lands, furnishing little else than silica; lime- 
stone cliffs, affording along their sides the richest of fruit 
soils ; high clayey ridges, requiring thorough tilth ; and broad, 
river bottoms with deep black soil, are all congenial, and well 
adapted to the general culture of the apple. But all these 
various soils are disposed to favor the growth of particular 
varieties, and it should be the business of the horticulturist to 
classify and point out to the fruit grower and farmer the ad- 
vantages to be derived from a discriminating selection. 

Dr. J. A. Warder, the distinguished horticulturist of the 



62 ORCHARDS. 

West, is of opinion that "an elevated situation, "with light, 
porous soil, is the most proper location for an apple orchard, 
although it is found that fruit trees will thrive in newly cleared 
land, if set among the stumps; they have been planted on 
prairie sod, and there are many fine orchards on rocky tracts, 
where the preparation must be done exclusively with the pick, 
the spade, and the shovel. It may be the best economy for 
the owner of such land to appropriate it to the orchard, be- 
cause it is unfitted for tillage crops." Decidedly best, for the 
product of such rough land may be made to vie with and even 
surpass in value the richest and most highly cultivated acres 
of the farm. 

A gentleman who owns a farm in a rough, mountainous, 
red-land section of Virginia, has an orchard, which in the ag- 
gregate is a large one, planted entirely on such spots — no 
order or regularity is observed or attempted, but the trees are 
set in fence corners, abrupt declivities, beside heaps of stone, 
along lanes and places impracticable for tillage with the plough, 
where only the pick and mattock can be used to loosen the 
soil — and these places produce thrifty trees, and fruit of. 
the very best quality — the rich, light, friable soil requiring but 
little cultivation. These spots, which otherwise would be 
valueless, are thus made, with little labor and expense, the 
most productive parts of the farm. 

As farther proof of the adaptability of certain soils to large 
growth and successful apple culture, the author will here de- 
scribe a large tree, in his own neighborhood, which description 
he gave the Southern Planter and Farmer some months ago : 

Probably the largest apple tree in the Southern States is 
now standing in a dilapidated condition on a farm at present 
owned by the heirs of the late Professor George Blaetterman, 
of the University of Virginia, in Albemarle county, three 
miles south of the southwest mountains. The soil that pro- 
duced this noble old patriarch is friable and loamy, of dark 
mulatto color, and a little mixed with small yellow gravel; 
clay subsoil, and immediately over the only bed or vein of 
limestone between the ocean and the mountains. This tree is 
upwards of three feet in diameter three feet above the ground, 



ORCHARDS. 63 

and its present height is not less than thirty-five or forty feet. 
One of its branches has decayed and fallen off. The tree 
still bears fruit of medium size and indifferent flavor, but makes 
good cider. It has two or three neighbors standing near at 
irregular intervals — all are much decayed, and one, fully as 
large as the one I am describing, has fallen, and its bulky 
ruins still remain. All these trees are evidently seedlings. 
An old dwelling once stood near tbem, which was built and 
occupied by the Sharpe family, who were among the pioneers 
of this section. The scope of the writer's recollection is some 
fifty-five years, and these trees were grand old specimens at 
his earliest recollection. They are probably not less than one 
hundred years old. 

All that has life must perish and decay, 

Mix dust to dust, though long or short the stay. 
Oft has dread lightnings quivered o'er thy head, 

And raging tempest rocked thee in thy bed ; 
And winds less rapid oft have spread around 

And cast thy fruit all pattering to the ground ; 
Where man and beast the benefit received, 

And thou wertof the bending load relieved. 

The pomologist may infer that the soil above described is the 
very best, and most suitable for the growth of the "prince of 
all fruits," the Apple — yet, the farmer and orchardist should 
bear in mind that any good, strong soil, of whatever color, 
texture, or consistence, that will grow good corn, wheat, or 
tobacco, will produce fair crops of fruit; and, with proper 
care and tillage, abundant returns may be expected. 

PREPARATION OF SOIL. 

Any good farmer will not be surprised to learn that very 
•thorough cultivation of the land appropriated to orchards, even 
m the situation is favorable, is not to be dispensed with. As 
a general rule, it should be deeply and well; ploughed, followed 
by a new-ground coulter or subsoil plough to lift and pulver- 
ize the soil. The harrow should then be applied and the soil 
reduced to a fine tilth. 

The mattock may be used on steep or stony ground, where 



64 ORCHARDS. 

ploughing is impracticable ; " but trenching the ground with 
the spade is a much more efficient mode of preparation than 
can be effected by the mattock ; for, where it is properly per- 
formed, the surface soil is thrown to the bottom, and the fat 
subsoil is brought to the top, from which procedure results not 
only the thorough culture that is desired, but the mould is 
placed below, for the deep roots and the new soil, free from 
the seeds of weeds, is brought within the reach of the sun and 
frost and atmospheric influences. It is not necessary to de- 
scribe the process of trenching, nor to enlarge upon its ad- 
vantages, as they are generally understood. The only diffi- 
culty is the cost, which may deter many from the practice of 
this mode. The expense of trenching an acre of land, clear 
soil, would be at this time about $50. The same land may 
be ploughed nearly as deeply for about $10 ; showing a dif- 
ference of outlay in this important item that would induce 
most persons to dispense with the spade in the preparation of 
orchard land. 

The land selected for orchards, if not sufficiently rich, 
should be well manured before ploughing ; and after setting 
the trees, a covering of leaves, straw, or any kind of litter, 
will have a most beneficial effect in relieving the effects of 
drought, producing an even temperature, a regular and healthy 
growth, and will promote fair and abundant crops as the trees 
approach maturity. 

We read in the New Testament of an ancient cultivator 
who had got it into his head that digging and dunging a tree 
might help it. The faults of ordinary management are the 
impoverishment of the soil and the withholding of proper 
manures; such as "muck," ditch mud, peat and animal 
manures, ashes, &c, the first four having been properly acted 
on by the freezing of a winter. All these together make a 
compost of the best description for thin soil, intended for 
setting an orchard, or, to be used to promote the free growth 
of the trees in the process of cultivation. 

Surface draining should not be neglected, and under drain- 
ing is indispensable in low and very moist situations ; for the 
apple tree is a little "impatient of wet," and does not well 



ORCHARDS. 65 

"bear a wet foot." Most situations, however, in the high- 
lands, that would be preferred for orchards, have natural 
drainage sufficient for every purpose. Even some of those 
plants which are considered aquatics, appear to thrive better, 
when the redundance of wetness is in some measure alleviated 
by drainage. As a general rule, if the soil be retentive, or 
wet, it would be best to practice thorough drainage, by a 
system of under-drains. It is not deemed necessary in this 
work to describe the process of underdraining, or to expatiate 
on its merits and advantages, as every farmer knows, or has 
the means of knowing, whatever is practicable or profitable 
about it. 

Large quantities of barnyard manure are not recommended 
in setting out young trees, or in orchard culture; although, if 
well rotted and ^n moderate quantities, its effects on the growth 
of young trees is very obvious. Ashes, lime, plaster, char- 
coal, bone dust, muck, and, better than all, sods and soil from 
fence-sides and corners, road-sides and forest, constitute the 
proper food for the apple orchard ; but lime should not be 
used among young trees, unless in such quantities as farmers 
usually spread on their cerealjCrops, and if so used, its appli- 
cation is exceedingly proper, especially on clayey soils. 

Downing, in his magnificent and elaborate work on " The 
Fruits and Fruit Trees of America" says, in regard to pre- 
paring the places, " Here is the fatal stumbling-block of all 
novices and ignorant persons in transplanting. An English 
gardener when he is about to plant fruit trees, talks about 
preparing his borders; an American says he will dig his holes; 
and we cannot give a more forcible illustration of the ideas of 
the two persons as to the wants of a fruit tree, or a better 
notion of the comparative provision made to supply these 
wants, than by contrasting the two phrases themselves. The 
one looks upon a tree as a living being, whose life is to be 
rendered long, vigorous and fruitful by a good supply of food, 
and a soil mellow and easily penetrated by the smallest fibre ; 
the other considers it very much in the light of a truncheon, 
or a post, which he thrusts into the smallest possible hole, and 
supplies with the least portion of manure, trusting to what 
6 



66 ORCHARDS. 

he seems to believe the inextinguishable powers of nature, to 
make roots and branches under any circumstances. It is true 
that the terms differ somewhat from the nature of the culture 
and the greater preparation necessary in planting fruit trees 
in England, but this is not by any means sufficient to justify 
the different modes of performing the same operation there 
and here. 

" In truth, in -this country, where the sun and climate are 
so favorable, where pruning and training are comparatively 
so little necessary, the great requisite to success in the ordi- 
nary culture of fruit trees is the proper preparation of the 
soil before a tree is planted. Whether a transplanted tree 
shall struggle several years to recover, or grow moderately 
after a short time, or at once start into a very luxuriant and 
vigorous growth, depends entirely upon the amount of care 
and labor the planter is willing to bestow on the soil for his 
trees. We have seen several instances where, side by side, 
one man planted his trees in large spaces of deeply moved 
and rich soil, and another in small holes in the common mode, 
which uniformly showed the trees of the first larger after 
five years, than those of the last, after twelve." 

We have written and quoted enough to satisfy the intelli- 
gent planter that the great desideratum in the art of trans- 
planting, is THOROUGH PREPARATION OF THE SOIL ; that is 
the foundation of all after work, and the main source of all 
subsequent free-growth and thrift in the young plant. The 
tree thus placed in the most favorable situation, luxuriates in 
the. mellow soil, and grows off at once freely and vigorously 
spreading its verdant branches, supported by a stem, smooth, 
elastic, and green as the young hickory. 

MANURE FOR TREES. 

The bog-mud from ditches, leaves, trash, soil from fence 
corners, &c, should be collected and mixed with animal 
manures to form a compost the most valuable for trees of 
almost every description. The muck, or mud, should be thrown 
out during the dry weather of summer or fall, and should be 



ORCHARDS. 



67 



occasionally stirred, and left for the freezing and frost of one 
winter to mellow it — a little lime, or ashes,* added to the 
heap contributes greatly to its value ; the rubbish lime from 
old walls and buildings is the best. Well rotted stable manure 
alone is also very beneficial as a top dressing for trees. 

LAYING OFF. 

The soil having been thoroughly prepared and sufficiently 
manured, the next process will be laying off the ground for 
planting. This affords an opportunity for the exercise of 
some skill and taste. In arranging the trees, Mr. Bucknall 
directs them to be planted conformably to the mode repre- 
sented in the following cut : 




One row of the tallest and strongest standards is to be set 
on three cold sides, parallel to which, must be planted another 
row of the next free-growers, then the trees are to be disposed 
in a similar manner, according to their strength, gradually 
declining in size, to the center. Each standard is to be 
placed 33 feet apart, between which two dwarf-trees should be 
planted, all of them being so pruned that each row will, in 
the course of a few years, form an actual hedge of fruit. 
The intermediate spaces may be filled with any hoed crops, 
which, should be omitted accordingly as the trees advance in 
growth. Farther, the rows of trees ought to incline to a 
point of the compass towards the east, because the sun will 
shine upon them early in the forenoon, and thus dissipate the 

* Well rotted chip manure is excellent for fruit trees. It comes under 
the head of leaves, forest mould, and such like material from vegetable 
decay. The effect of ashes is immediate and continues for years. 



68 



ORCHARDS. 



vapors which arise during the vernal nights, and stint the 
fruit in the earlier stages of its growth. 

Having given this general outline relative to the planting 
of orchards, we should consider our work deficient on a sub- 
ject of such importance, if we neglected the opportunity of 
communicating a more complete and systematic introduction to 
this department of horticulture, with which we have been favored 
by Mr. Christ, an eminent and practical German writer. In 
order to enhance the value of this work, we have procured 
the subjoined cut, which represents two rows of a design for 
an orchard, occupying two acres of ground (Rhenish meas- 
ure) that is, 19 roods in length, according to the horizontal 
rows, and 17 roods in breadth, conformably to the perpen- 
dicular lines. 








In an extensive orchard, the proprietor will find it more 
advantageous to place the fruit trees at a considerable dis- 
tance, as, by such arrangement, he will be enabled to train a 
greater variety of useful plants beneath and between those of 
a larger size. But in a limited space of ground, such as that 
exhibited in the preceding cut, the primary object will be to 
make the most economical use of the allotted ground and to 
secure the greatest possible variety of fruit-bearing trees. 
Next he will endeavor to arrange them so that they may stand 
in symmetrical order, and exhibit a pleasing sight. For this 
purpose the arrangement here proposed, in an irregular square, 
will be found the most convenient and agreeable to the laws 
of vegetation. Thus, the eye, wherever it turns, not only 



ORCHARDS. 69 

perceives a straight line, and uniform grooves, but the plan 
itself is the most consistent ; because each tree is planted, in a 
certain space, at the greatest possible distance from the other, 
and thus, in this manner, is less cumbersome to its neighbor, 
than it would be in a rectangular square. Hence the proper 
and most profitable disposition will be that of allowing three 
rods interval between standards, in the horizontal rows from 
east to west, and two and a half rods in the perpendicular 
lines from south to - north. This space, however, would, after 
sometime, be too narrow ; one tree wuuld impede the growth 
of another, and by obstructing the air as well as the rays of 
the sun, prevent the ripening of the fruit ; if the trees were 

indiscriminately in the spots marked on the plan To 

obviate such inconvenience, it should be understood to be a 
fundamental rule, that each fruit tree must be provided with a 
neighbor, which is of a different growth. It will, therefore, 
be requisite to make such a choice of the various kinds and 
species of trees, that one of a vigorous growth with a spread- 
ing crown, or top, should stand next to another that expands 
with less luxuriance, and has fewer or lower branches. This 
arrangement may be more easily accomplished, as every 
zealous friend of horticulture will naturally wish to possess 
in his collection, at least one, or a few trees of every valuable 
kind of fruit. And in order to facilitate such choice, we shall, 
in the course of this work, furnish ample catalogues from 
which proper selections may be made. 

But, though the soil and space for standards, according to 
our plan, be rather sparingly allotted, yet there would remain 
a considerable piece of ground between them unemployed, 
for some years, while they are young and growing ; hence it 
will be advisable to plant and train between every two stand- 
ards, in the horizontal rows, a small or dwarf-tree with a lim- 
ited top or crown (peach trees would answer very well) bear- 
ing early and abundant fruit, until the stems have attained so 
large a size, and such spreading branches, as to overshadow 
and stifle their useful but diminutive neighbors. Thus the 
latter must, according to circumstances, yield the room they 
occupy to the former ; and after having amply repaid the 



70 ORCHARDS. 

trouble of rearing them and their proportion of the ground 
rent, they may still, with proper exertion, be transplanted to 
another situation. 

Among all fruit trees, there are none better calculated for 
intermediate plantation between standards than the Yellow 
Mirabelle, and the Cfolden Pippin. The former is of tolera- 
bly quick growth, may be managed and pruned at pleasure, and 
generally bears fruit in the second year after having been trans- 
planted ; its abundant plums are of great value, both for home 
consumption and for sale, when in a dried state. The Golden 
Pippin maintains the same rank among apple trees as the 
Mirabelle among the plum kind ; its growth is moderate, the 
fruit plentiful and delicious, containing a sharp, aromatic 
juice and a tender pulp. 

We will now give a few extracts from Coxe, one of the 
most valuable, practical American works that has been pub- 
lished, but which is now nearly, or quite, out of print, and is 
rarely to be met with : 

" The first thing to be determined upon in the planting of 
an orchard, is the proper distance of the trees ; if a mere 
fruit plantation be the object, the distance may be small, if 
the cultivation of grain and grass be in view, (grain and grass 
should never grow in an orchard,) the space between the trees 
must be wider ; at 30 feet apart, an acre will contain 48 trees; 
at 35 feet, 35 trees ; at 40 feet, 27 trees, and at 50 feet, . 
about 18 trees to the acre. It will probably be found that 
40 feet is the most eligible distance for a farm orchard. It 
will admit sufficient sun and air in our dry, warm climate ; 
and until the trees shall be fully grown, will allow of a profit- 
able application of the ground to the cultivation of grain and 
grass," (rather of any kind of hoed crops). Grain and grass, 
and especially clover, should never grow among young trees, 
or even in a grown up orchard. Buckwheat is not so in- 
jurious. 

Dr. Long, of Illinois, uses a very simple mode of laying 
off the ground for his orchard trees, by which he secures per- 
fect regularity, without even looking behind him. He uses a 
very strong line, duly stretched and prepared for the purpose. 



ORCHARDS. 71 

(with, we suppose, bits of red flannel sewed on to designate 
the exact distances of the trees from each other.) With this 
he marked the spot where to drive his stakes, and then in- 
stead of using the notched board to determine how to dig the 
hole and set the tree, he made use of the handle of the spade. 
By laying it down on the four sides of the stake, he marked 
out a circle with the stake for the center, which was to be the 
size of the hole dug. In this way he marked out the exact 
place where the tree should stand. 

THE NOTCHED BOARD. 




The notched board for setting trees is prepared as follows : 
Take an inch board 8 inches wide, bore a 1| or 2 inch 
auger hole exactly in the centre each way, saw out the piece 
on one side to the hole in the centre of the board, to corres- 
pond with the diameter of the hole — then bore an inch hole 
near each end to pin it to the ground. After the exact place 
for each tree is designated by a stake, according to Dr. Long's 
plan, or some other, slip the board on to the stake, with the 
stake in the notch — then drive a pin in the holes in each end 
and mark off the place to be dug or scraped out — say 4 feet 
square with the stake in the centre — then lift off the board, 
pull up the stake, and prepare the place for the tree, which 
should be from 15 to 18 inches deep, and filled to a sufficient 
height with rich mellow soil. When ready to plant, replace 
the board on the end pins, and adjust the tree to the notch, 
which shows the exact place where the stake stood — see that 
the tree sits firmly on the bottom prepared for it — spread 
out the roots, having first pared off the wounded ends, and 
fill in with fine rich mould — give the tree a slight churning 
when the roots are covered, and let the tree sit about as deep 
as it did in the nursery, which can be known by the color of 
the bark — during the process tramp in the soil gently with the 
foot. As a general rule about 3 inches of soil should remain 



72 ORCHARDS. 

above the upmost tier of roots. In setting large trees, it is 
important that the bark of each tree should correspond with 
the point of the compass to which it stood before removal. 
We regard the notched board as the most correct mode of 
ascertaining the exact position of thetree. 

PREPARING THE HOLES OR PLACES FOR THE 

TREES. 

If the ground has been well loosened with the plough fol- 
lowed by the subsoil plough, or deeply worked with the spade 
to the depth of 14 or 16 inches, the job of digging the holes 
will be light. As has already been stated, drainage of some 
sort is indispensable. In the uplands this expense is unne- 
cessary, as the natural drainage is sufficient. Slaty hill-tops 
and declivities and gravelly soils are naturally well drained, 
and most elevated situations are dry enough. Level, clayey 
soils should be drained, in some way before trees should be 
planted, as they will not thrive in wet land. When holes are 
dug with the spade, without drainage, in such soil, you are 
a pt to set your trees in a bed of mortar; then water 
will stand around them, and will often kill them. Mr. 
Baldwin's plan is to " plough the ground just to the depth 
that you wish to set the trees, plough three or four fur- 
rows wide and in the direction in which the ground slopes ; 
and then you will have no standing water about your 
trees. The water does not stagnate but runs off. And then, 
by this method, I can set five trees while you are setting one 
with the spade." Dr. Long ridged his wet land and plant- 
ed upon these ridges, and succeeded well in growing his 
trees. In regard to deep planting, the Dr. also says, " we 
must be very careful about digging a deep hole — deep plant- 
ing is very injurious to apple trees for the reason above named, 
besides you deter many from setting out trees by telling them 
that they must subsoil, dig great holes, and underdrain." 

Mr. Baldwin was of opinion that it was not often necessary to 
subsoil and underdrain in planting an apple orchard, and would 
state in reference to the whole subject, that any body who wishes 
to make trees grow must consult nature. We know where the 



ORCHARDS. 73 

soil is wet constantly, trees will not grow. Surface draining, 
or some other method, must be adopted to drain the land, that 
the soil may be adapted to the cultivation of fruits. Do this, 
and your trees will grow. Neglect it and they will not grow. 
Persons who set out grape vines, for example, in the mud, 
and expect them to grow and produce fruit, will be disap- 
pointed. Better not set them out at all. I repeat, we must, 
in this matter, consult nature. (We should recollect that the 
opinions expressed by Dr. Long, and Mr. BaldAvin are in refer- 
ence to tree planting in the deep soil on the prairies. 

A correspondent of the American Agriculturist, one of 
the most valuable journals of the kind in the United States, 
in regard to " digging holes for trees," says, " There is a deal 
of good horticultural sweat wasted in digging holes for trees? 
when we dig so deep and wide as the fathers in horticulture 
have taught. There are unfinished portions of creation, of 
course, where, in planting an apple tree, it may be necessary 
to remove a load of gravel, and bring a load and a half of 
soil — growing trees, as it were, in pots. But would it not 
save transportation to pack up one's baggage and decamp 
from such places ? In a fair soil, if the transplanted tree 
could but have the earth about it to itself, and not be robbed 
by some nimble-rooted green-crop, under the guise of " cul- 
tivation," or by grass, or foul weeds, of just that ready nutri- 
ment which the dismembered tree so sorely needs, 15 or 18 
inches is deep enough for the holes. When the tree tops, ( I am 
thinking of apples), are twenty, thirty, forty feet in diameter, 
even the deepest holes the most enthusiastic cultivator ever 
perspired in, are insignificant. Manure, too — why put in 
under the young tree a Golgotha of bones, old boots, stones, 
tin pots and what not ? One shovelful of old barn yard 
manure will feed a young tree for a year, perhaps more. 
Can't we save some of this ardor for the time when the tree 
needs a little pruning, a twig here and there — and, instead of 
such extreme generosity with the subsoil at the start, show a 
continuous disposition to let the tree have the surface soil, 
which it so delights in ? Can't we keep up the enthusiasm 
long enough (having secured thrift, which is half the battle 



74 ORCHARDS. 

against insects), to keep vigilant watch for the insidious borer ? 
But that matter of insects must be taken hold of in great 
earnest. The negligence of cultivators in this respect is cost- 
ing the nation many millions."* 

In diggiyig holes for the trees, the practice of the author is, 
when the soil is slaty or shallow, to dig them 15 or 20 inches 
deep, and wide enough for spreading out all the roots in their 
natural position. Then subsoil the holes or places, viz : dig 
up and pulverize the bottom with a pickaxe or long bladed 
mattock, to the depth of six or eight inches, f This gives a 
depth of pulverized earth, when the hole is well filled, of 
about twenty four or twenty six inches. Where trees are 
allowed the tap-root, this mode of preparation is far the best ; 
and trees with no tap roots are benefitted by the additional 
drainage and retention of moisture thus secured. (Something 
more will be said in regard to tap roots in the course of this 
work.) It does not matter how deep or how wide the holes 
are dug, the wider and deeper the better, provided they are 
well filled with good rich soil, mixed with a handfull or two 
of bone dust or lime — pack a little, and place the soil close 
around the roots, and fill up to a point that will allow the 
tree to set, when the work is finished, no deeper than it stood 
in the nursery. 

* It is the practice in the West, where the soil is drained and naturally 
deep and mellow, after the ground has been deeply ploughed and well 
harrowed, to make the holes or places for setting trees with the plough, 
by simply marking out the surface at the proper distances, aud setting 
the trees at the intersections. This is done by running in the same fnr- 
row several times. 

f When the ground is elevated and the bottom of the holes slaty or 
gravelly, fill in to the depth of 3 or 4 inches with clayey soil from the 
ditch banks. 

PREPARATION OF THE TREES. 

As a general thing, trees are placed in the ground pre- 
cisely as they are sent from the nursery. In removing a 
tree, no matter how carefully it may be done, a portion of the 
roots are broken and destroyed, and consequently the balance 



ORCHARDS. 75 

that existed in the structure of the tree is deranged. This 
must be restored by a proper pruning, adapted to the size, 
form and condition of the tree, as follows : 

Standard Orchard Trees. — These, as sent from the 
nursery, vary from five to eight feet in height, with naked 
stems or trunks, and a number of branches at the top forming 
a head. These branches should be (somewhat shortened) cut 
back to within three or four buds of their base. This lessens 
the demand upon the roots, and enables the remaining buds 
to push with vigor. In the case of older trees of extra size, the 
pruning must be in proportion ; as a general thing, it will be 
safe to shorten all the previous year's shoots to three or four 
buds at their base, and where the branches are very numerous , 
some may be cut out entirely. Although the above " hints 
on transplanting," are from the pen of an experienced nur- 
seryman, yet, we think, as regards pruning or preparing a 
tree for transplanting, the writer recommends rather a free 
use of the knife. Much, however, in our judgment depends 
on the condition of the tree, and the preservation of the roots 
in taking them up. With the usual fair proportion of roots, 
as taken from the nursery, and careful setting, such severe 
pruning as " cutting back to within three or four buds 
of their base," is rather retarding the growth, and jeop- 
ardizing the life of the young tree. The fact must be that 
the tree needs some branches as well as roots, and will lose 
less, and grow more vigorously, under favorable circum- 
stances, with a moderate proportion of the former. We shall 
quote other authorities on the subject, as this writer truly says, 
more fatal errors are committed in preparing young trees for 
transplanting than on any other operation connected with 
rearing trees. 

Pyramidal Trees. — " If of two or three years' growth, 
with a number of side branches, will require to be pruned 
with a two-fold object in view, viz : The growth of the tree 
and the desired form. The branches must be cut in the form 
of a pyramid by shortening the lower ones, say one half? 
those above them shorter, and the upper ones around the lead- 
ing shoot to within two or three buds of their base. The 



76 ORCHARDS. 

leader itself must be shortened back one half or more. "When 
trees have been dried or injured much by exposure, the prun- 
ing must be closer than if in good order. 

Dwarf Standard Trees and Dwarf Bushes must be 
pruned as recommended for standards, aiming at producing 
a round, well proportioned head, with the main branches reg- 
ularly distributed, and far enough apart to admit air enough 
to all parts. 

Gearting Trees intended for Pyramids. — Some of 
these may have a few side branches, the smallest of which 
should be cut clean away, reserving only the strongest and 
best placed. In other respects they will be pruned as directed 
for trees of two years' growth. 

Those having no side branches should be cut back so far as 
to insure the production of a tier of branches within six inches 
or less of the ground. A strong yearling four to six feet, 
may be cut back about half, and the weaker ones more than 
that. It is better to cut too low than not low enough, for if 
the first tier of branches be not low enough, the pyramidical 
form cannot afterwards be perfected. 

Planting. — Although very full directions for planting will 
be given in the course of this work, yet, the views of the ex- 
cellent author we are quoting on this subject, are so simple 
and valuable, that, to omit them here would lessen the 
importance of this part of the work of the orchardist. 

" Dig holes in the first place, large enough to admit the 
roots of the tree to spread out in their natural position. 
Then having the tree pruned as above directed, let one per- 
son hold it in an upright position, and the other shovel in the 
earth, carefully putting the finest and best from the surface 
in among the roots, filling every interstice, and bringing every 
root in contact with the soil. When the earth is nearly filled 
in, a pail of water may be thrown on to settle and wash in the 
earth around the roots ; then fill in the remainder, and tread 
gently with the foot. The use of water is seldom necessary, 
except in dry weather, early in Fall or late in Spring. Guard 
against planting too deep ; the trees, after the ground settles, 
should stand in this respect as they did in the nursery. Trees 



ORCHARDS. 77 

on dwarf stocks should stand so that all the stock be under 
the ground, and no more." 

In very dry gravelly ground, the holes should be dug twice 
the usual size and depth, and filled with good loamy soil. 

"Staking. — If trees are tall and much exposed to winds, a 
stake should be planted with the tree, to which it should be 
tied in such a manner as to avoid chafing. A piece of mat- 
ting or cloth may be secured between the tree and the 
stake." (The author is of opinion that some flat rocks around 
the roots when they are at hand are much better than stakes, 
as they help to retain the moisture, and the weight 
keeps the tree in its upright position, without the risk of 
being chafed, besides securing free motion to the tree — but 
staking is not needful in ordinary cases, if the trees are well 
set. 

" Mulching. — When the tree is planted, throw around it 
as far as the roots extend, and a foot beyond, five or six 
inches of rough manure or litter. This is highly advantageous 
everywhere, both in Spring and in Fall planting. It pre- 
vents the ground from baking or cracking, and maintains an 
equal temperature about the roots." Leaves are the natural 
and best mulching, especially when partly decayed, with a 
few brush to hold them around the trees ; and when the fruit 
ripens, remove the brush and there is a good protection from 
bruises and dirt. 

" After Culture. — (The fruit grower cannot be too often 
reminded of the advantage of culture.) "The grass should 
not be allowed to grow around young trees after being planted, 
as it stunts their growth and utterly ruins them. The ground 
should be kept clean and loose around them, until at least they 
are of bearing size. 

f§!" Treatment of trees that have been frozen in the packages, 
or received during frosty weather — Place the packages, 
unopened, in the cellar or some such place, but free from 
frost, until perfectly thawed, when they can be unpacked, and 
either planted or placed in a trench, until convenient to plant. 
Thus treated they will not be injured by freezing. Trees 
procured in the Fall for Spring planting, should be laid in 



78 ORCHARDS. 

trenches in a slanting position to avoid the winds ; the situa- 
tion should also be sheltered, and the soil dry. A mulching 
on the' roots and a few evergreen boughs over the tops, will 
afford a good protection." 

" The above valuable hints on " Transplanting and Prepar- 
ation of the Trees," are from the Descriptive Catalogue of 
Fruits of Elwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y. 

DISTANCE BETWEEN TREES IN PLANTATIONS. 

According to Downing, "the distance at which trees should 
be planted in an orchard depends upon the mode in which 
they are to be treated. When it is desired fully to cover 
and devote the whole ground to the trees, thirty feet apart is 
the proper interval; but, where the farmer wishes to keep the 
land between the trees in grain and grass, fifty feet is not too 
great a distance in strong soils. Forty feet apart, however, 
is the usual distance at which the trees are planted in orchards." 
We object to "grain and grass" in orchards, as such cultiva- 
tion is insufficient. Hoed crops are almost indispensable, and 
they should not be grown nearer than four feet from the trees, 
as they deprive the trees of a portion of the moisture and food 
so much needed for luxuriant and healthy growth, always 
to be desired in young trees. Nothing should be grown im- 
mediately under a tree, and there the cultivation should be 
with the hoe, and not too deep. Experienced cultivators, how- 
ever, allow that buckivheat may be cultivated with advantage 
in strong soils. 

Thirty feet apart, then, is the proper distance in good soils, 
allowing hoed crops until the trees are getting large, and then 
give the whole ground to the trees — this will ensure quick 
growth and early bearing. 

In addition to "vrhat has already been said on this subject, 
the views of a few more writers might be useful to the farmer 
in arranging his orchard. 

Under the head of "Laying Off," Mr. Bucknall recom- 
mends thirty-three feet apart for large standard trees, with 
two dwarf trees or bushes between, which may be removed as 
the large trees require the room they occupy. See also the 



ORCHARDS. 79 

views of Mr. Christ, under the same head, who recommends 
three rods by two and a half, under certain modifications, as 
the proper distance between the trees. 

Coles, in his American Fruit Book, says, "As to the dis- 
tance between apple trees, much depends on circumstances. 
A person wanting many kinds on a small space, should set 
thick and shorten in the limbs as they interfere, and in due 
time cut away the poorest trees. In general, orchard culture 
thirty to thirty-three feet is a good distance. Some set forty 
feet apart, but it allows only about twenty-eight trees to the 
acre, and will be a long time, if ever, before they cover the 
land. When set two rods apart, peach, plum, or cherry trees 
may be set between them ; and in most cases these trees will 
flourish, bear and fail, before the apple trees will need the 
room. In devoting land wholly to the apple, we would put 
100 trees on an acre (almost twenty-one feet apart), and they 
would bear many years before interfering, and then cut away 
the poorest trees." 

We close this article with a quotation from Coxe, an authority 
of the highest reputation on the cultivation and management 
of orchards: "The first thing to be determined upon in the 
planting of an orchard is, the proper distance of the trees ; 
if a mere fruit plantation be the object, the distance may be 
small; if the cultivation of grain be in view (we object to 
that), the space between the trees must be wider ; at 30 feet 
apart an acre will contain 48 trees ; at 35 feet, 35 trees ; at 
40 feet, 27 trees ; and at 50 feet, about 18 trees to the acre. 
It will probably be found that 40 feet is the most eligible dis- 
tance for a farm orchard. It will admit sufficient sun and air 
in our dry, warm climate ; and, until the trees shall be fully 
grown, will allow of a profitable application of the ground to 
the cultivation (of other crops) grain and grass.* In the ar- 
rangement of an orchard, plant each hind in distinct contigu- 
ous rows." 

* In yards and lawns, where grass must be cultivated among the trees, 
a space some three or four yards in diameter around the trees should be 
kept clear of grass, and may be dug up, mulched, and manured, thereby 
accelerating the growth of the trees, improving the quality of the fruit, 
and protecting from injury the portion that falls to the ground. 



80 ORCHARDS. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



"Planting, in gardening and agriculture, implies the, setting 
of a plant or tree ; which, being moved from its former place, 
is fixed in a fresh cavity proportioned to its size." 

The whole art of transplanting is a very simple affair, re- 
quiring only care and attention, and there is not much differ- 
ence of opinion among authors and fruit growers on this sub- 
ject. The ground having been deeply ploughed or dug, and 
the holes or places prepared as directed in the preceding 
pages ; choose a time in either Fall or Spring, when the ground 
is not wet or frozen — November and March are, perhaps, the 
best months for this operation in the South and West ; although 
later in Spring and earlier in Autumn will answer. Some- 
times there are spells during the winter months very favorable 
to planting, and the author has succeeded well in planting 
trees during mild, dry weather in winter. 

In light, puffy, or sandy soil, if such have to be used, Fall 
planting is considered best, as the soil will become more set- 
tled and compact by the time the trees commence growing. 
On stiff clayey soils, Spring planting will do quite as well, if • 
not better. 

The directions contained in the following excellent article, 
from the pen of John J. Thomas, Esq., on transplanting in 
Autumn, may be considered fully sufficient, under ordinary 
circumstances, of tree planting at that season of the year: 

" The question is often asked, what is the best time to set 
out fruit trees ? Can we do it while the leaves are yet green, 
or wait till near winter, after they have fallen ? The answer 
may be, Do it whenever the work can be well done, and while 
the soil is in proper condition, as to dryness, for working 
properly. If done early, the leaves must be carefully stripped 
off, to prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture. We have 
known trees to have been entirely spoiled in a few hours by 
wilting, from carelessness in not removing the leaves when 
taken up. In the Northern States, nurserymen usually com- 
mence digging by the first of October. Some trees have en- 
tirely ceased growing by this time, including generally, cher- 



ORCHARDS. 81 

ries, plums, and standard pears. If the leaves are removed, 
they may now be taken up and transplanted as well as at any 
time in Autumn, or the following Spring. Others have not 
fully completed the ripening of the young wood, which is 
effected through the assistance of the leaves. The only harm 
done in taking them up, at this time, is in getting immatured 
shoots on some parts of the trees, instead of those well -ripened 
and hardened; and the result will be that some of the tips 
may be nipped by the frosts of Winter, or they will not start 
in Spring with so much certainty and vigor. Hardy kinds, 
such as the apple, will not be much injured in this way; and 
the peach, although tender, should be shortened back in Spring 
in any case. 

It will be safe, therefore, with few exceptions, to take up 
trees any time after the 1st of October — care being taken to 
do the work well, as already indicated. 

The soil should be in such condition as to be easily made 
fine and mellow, so that it may be filled in perfectly among 
the roots without having interstices. Staking against wind, 
or effecting ' the same purpose by a small mound of earth, 
should not be omitted." (These mounds should be removed 
in the course of the Summer — their use is very doubtful. The 
stake is injurious, unless carefully wrapped or padded — a few 
flat rocks around the stem, where they can be had, is better 
than either, as they help to retain the moisture, and no winds 
can displace the tree. If the situation is not exposed to high 
winds, and the tops are light, no staking is necessary. If the 
free motion of a young tree is prevented by staking, it retards 
growth and elasticity, and is detrimental to vigor and health.) 
We never succeeded better than by taking up trees about 
mid-Autumn, heeling them in by burying the roots and half 
the stems for wintering, and setting out early in Spring. They, 
however, do quite as well set out in Autumn, provided they 
are hardy sorts, and the site is not a windy one. In heeling 
in for winter, it is absolutely essential to fill all the interstices 
among the roots very compactly with fine earth. Many trees 
are needlessly lost by carelessness in this particular. The 
roots are injured by dryness or mouldiness, and the mice find 
7 



Gil ORCHARDS. 

easy access among tbe cavities. To exclude mice effectually, 
the heeling ground should be clean, and a smooth mound raised 
on all sides about the trees. 

General Directions. — "Dig holes, in the first place, large 
enough to admit the roots of the tree to spread out in their 
natural position. Then, having the tree properly pruned, let 
one person hold it in an upright position and the other shovel 
in the earth, carefully putting in the finest and best from the 
surface in among the roots, filling every interstice, and bring- 
ing every root in contact with the soil. When the earth is 
nearly filled, a pail of water may be thrown on to settle and 
wash in the earth around the roots ; then fill in the remainder, 
and tread gently with the foot. The use of water is seldom 
necessary, except in dry weather, early in Fall, or late in 
Spring. Guard against planting too deep; the trees, after 
the ground settles, should stand, in this respect, as they did 
in the nursery. Trees on dwarf stocks should stand so that 
all the stock be under the ground, and no more. In very dry, 
gravelty ground, the holes should be dug twice the usual 
size and depth, and filled with good loamy soil." (Ellwan- 
der <f Barry.) We endorse the above, and shall proceed to 
quote other authors on this subject. 

Coxe, in his "View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees in 
the United States," says : 

" The proper season for planting will be found to depend 
on a variety of circumstances. In light soils, the Winter set- 
tles the earth around the roots, and best secures them against 
drought— it is a time of leisure to the farmer. In stiff, wet 
soils, Spring planting is preferred, other things being equal. 
Have planted at both seasons, and generally found that care 
and attention ensured corresponding success in the growth of 
trees. In whatever season an orchard is planted, be careful 
to extend the roots in every direction ; to cut off all wounded 
parts, and especially not to plant too deep ; plant with about 
three inches of earth over the upper tier of roots — which will 
make it about two inches deeper than it stood in the nursery ; 
after being partially covered, the tree should be well shaken, 
to admit the finer particles of earth among the fibrous roots ; 



ORCHARDS. 83 

and let it be well settled by treading the earth around it. 
The tops of young trees should never be shortened, lest it 
produce a growth of suckers — the top may be thinned out, if 
found too heavy. If the trees have been a long time out of 
of the nursery, and the roots have become shriveled at the 
time of planting, pour a pail of water around each tree." 

There is some discrepancy here between Core and other 
authors as regards planting, &c. Although he warns the 
farmer against "deep planting" yet he plants two inches 
deeper than the tree originally stood in the nursery, which is 
at variance with most authors. Next, he says, the trees should 
be well shaken to admit the finer particles of earth around the 
roots. This shaking or churning, as some call it, is objected 
to by some authors, who maintain that filling in the interstices 
with fine earth is sufficient, if well done. Then he says, 
" The tops of young trees should never be shortened, lest it 
produce a growth of suckers." As to the practice of planting 
deeper than the tree stood in the nursery, some allowance 
must be made for the settling of the earth around the tree, so 
that the depth will remain the same as when the tree grew in 
the nursery. As to shaking or churning, when the hole is 
partially filled, if moderately done, should it be of no advan- 
tage, it can do no harm. Downing says: "Pruning the heads 
of transplanted trees, at the time of their removal, we think 
generally an injurious practice." We are of the same opin- 
ion, unless their roots are dried, have been frozen, or improp- 
erly managed, when it might be necessary to use the knife 
freely. 

Downing also says that, "More than half the losses in or- 
chard planting in America arises from deep planting, and the 
equally common mode of crowding the earth too tightly about 
the roots. No tree should be planted deeper than it formerly 
grew, as its roots are stifled from want of air, or starved by 
the poverty of the soil at the depth where they are placed." 

Coles, in his "American Fruit Book," says, in regard to 
setting trees : " The land and holes being prepared as named, 
and the broken roots cut off, set the tree and place the roots 
in their natural position, and so that they will not run down- 



84 ORCHARDS. 

ward, and separate those that lie together; carefully guard 
against setting too deep, especially on cold, moist land. Let 
the upper roots lie a few inches below the surface, when the 
earth is leveled. The roots being adjusted, place fine loam on 
them, filling up closely under the heel of the tree,* and all 
around the roots so as to leave no cavity ; treading it down 
gently, that it may come in close contact with the roots. Do 
not shake the tree, as this will displace the small fibres. The 
hands should be used, not the foot, or a harsh implement, in 
adjusting the roots and applying the soil." 

" When the hole is filled up level, if it be in Spring, make a 
cavity to catch the rain. If it be in Fall, make a broad mound 
around the tree eight or ten inches high, to keep the roots 
warm, throw off the water, and support the tree. Place a few 
stones close by the tree, bedded firmly in the mound, then lay 
sods between the tree and the stones, and press them down 
closely. Thus set, no stakes are necessary, as the trees will 
stand a hurricane. It takes but a few minutes to make the 
mound and fasten the tree. In the Spring, remove the mound 
and make a cavity, as in Spring setting." 

The best season for transplanting is from November to 
March; because the generality of plants, trees, shrubs, &c, 
during those months are in a dormant state, and receive but 
little injury from their removal ; provided the roots are well 
preserved, and the weather open. The quality of the soil, as 
well as the climate, situation and exposure, should, therefore, 
be relatively consulted. It will also be necessary to mark the 
sides of trees or plants on which they are exposed to the sun, 
and place them exactly in the same direction ; for otherwise 
the circulation of the sap is prevented or retarded, and their 
growth consequently impeded. Farther, the roots must be 
properly spread before the plant is settled in the ground, when 
a portion of fine mould should be strewed over them ; and on 
being sprinkled with water, the whole ought to be closely 
pressed down to the consistence of unbroken earth. Next, 
some coarse litter or mulching should be scattered on the spot 

*This is facilitated by preparing a small mound in the bottom of the 
hole .of .fine loam or earth. 



ORCHARDS. 85 

in order to prevent the roots from being injured by the frost; 
and, if the trees are exposed to winds, it will be advisable to 
support them with stakes, during the first year at the least ; 
such stakes, however, must be carefully fixed in a triangular 
direction, inclining towards tne tree at the top, in an angle of 
thirty or forty degrees ; and at such depth that they may not 
interfere with the roots. It will also be proper to insert a few 
battens between the stakes, and to intertwine them with small 
birch or other twigs or wrappings that will not damage the 
bark, while they admit free passage to the rain water ; by this 
simple contrivance, the bark is at the same time effectually 
secured from the rot. 

Having quoted several authors on transplanting who, in the 
main, agree as to all essential points, we shall close this article 
With our own views, and those which we have adopted from 
the most prominent and reliable sources. 

The art of successfully removing trees from one location to 
another is a very simple, and yet a very important job ; for no 
tree improperly set will ever prosper as it should. 

Select any good soil, not Avet, that would produce a good crop 
of corn, tobacco, or potatoes, or, if it has been manured, and 
raised either of these crops the previous year, so much the 
better. Stake out your land according to directions under that 
head — twenty-five or thirty feet apart each way will do very 
well; dig the holes sixteen to eighteen inches deep,* and much 
larger than the roots extend— from three to six feet in cliam- 
eter, according to the size of the tree ; small, thrifty trees are 
the best, as they suffer less in removal, are more sure to take 
root, and will often surpass in growth much larger trees. 
Throw away the subsoil by scattering it all around with the 
shovel. If the hole or cavity is too deep for the tree, fill it 
up with good surface soil, which may be mixed with well pul- 
verized manure — compost in which bog or ditch mud, well 
decomposed, predominates is best — to which may be added, 

*It is best when the holes are of proper depth, and cleaned out, to dig 
up the bottom with the mattock five or six inches — let the subsoil remain, 
then fill in with rich soil. 



86 ORCHARDS. 

and well mixed, a pint or a quart of bone dust, according to 
the size of the tree. 

Let some one hold the tree upright in its place, spread out 
the roots carefully in their natural directions, and fill in the 
soil carefully, working it in werl among the roots with your 
fingers, so that no holes or interstices will be left for the air to 
aifect the roots. Previously to setting the tree a small hillock 
should be made in the hole at or near the centre to fit the sole 
or heel of the tree, so that it may stand firm and steady. 
When the roots are covered some two or three inches with soil, 
take hold of the stem and give a slight churning, which helps 
to settle the fine earth about the small roots ; then press gently 
with the foot; throw in more soil, and repeat the pressing 
with the foot — observing at the same time that the tree stands 
erect. When the hole or cavity is quite filled up, the tree 
should stand about as deep as it stood in the nursery, which 
may be known by the appearance of the bark at the root. 
Some orchardists set one or two inches deeper, to allow for 
settling of the earth. It is also proper to preserve a slight 
cavity around the tree to catch the rain, if you plant in Spring. 
If you set in Fall, have it a little sloping around from the 
stem. If the weather is dry, dash a pail of water around the 
tree to settle the ground and furnish the moisture, if it is 
needed. 

In regard to staking, a few rocks, flat ones if you can get 
them, placed around the stem will answer a better purpose 
than stakes. 

If the above directions are followed, there can be no doubt 
of luxuriant growth and a good start for the young orchard. 
Do not work deep near the trees — stir often, and keep out the 
grass, and the growth even of the first year will be consid- 
erable. 



ORCHARDS. 87 

MARKING FRUIT TREES. 

On a leaf of the farm book or journal, let the farmer put 
down a map of his orchard thus, every dot standing for an 
apple tree : 

NORTH. 



Summer — 




















Summer 


Summer 


Golden 


Golden 


Early 


Early 


Juneating. 


do. 


Queeu. 


Queen. 


Dixie. 


Dixie. 


Harvest. 


Harvest, 



Fall— 
Eainbo. Rambo. Baldwin. Baldwin. Pryor's Red. Pryor's do. Fall Pip'n. Fall P'n. 



Winter — 
Wine Sap. Wine Sap. Wine Sap. Wine Sap. Alb. Pip'n. Alb. Pip'n. Alb. Pip'n. Alb. P'n. 



Winter — 














Northern 


Northern Limbar- 


Limber- 


Rawle's 


Rawle's 


Winter 


Winter 


Spy- 


Spy. twig. 


twig. 


Genet. 


Genet. 


Cheese. 


Cheese. 



The upper part of the map is north. Then, by counting 
rows, and the number of the trees in the row, the tree repre- 
sented by each dot can be identified, and the name of the 
fruit should be under each dot as shown above. There are 
other modes, but this is the most convenient and simple. 

CULTIVATION OF ORCHARDS. 

The soil beneath and around fruit-trees, till they arrive at 
their full size, should by no means be neglected ; as the 
excellence and maturity of the fruits, will in a great measure 
depend upon its proper culture . . . Hence, no grass or 
weeds should be suffered to grow under the trees ; but the 
ground ought to be frequently stirred Avith the spading fork, 
mattock, or hoe; but not so deep as to interfere with the roots 
near the stems of young trees. The ground between the 
rows should be well cultivated with the plough : and root 
crops may be grown while the trees are young. When the 



88 ORCHARDS. 

trees become large and spreading, the whole of the ground 
should be appropriated to the use of the trees. 

The advantage of frequently breaking the crust and stir- 
ring the soil, especially under the trees, is of great benefit, 
as it allows the fertilizing particles of rain, air, dew, snow, &c, 
more easily to penetrate into the earth, and produce benefi- 
cial effects on the roots — such cultivation is likewise one of the 
most effectual means of preserving them in a sound and heal- 
thy state, and is most fatal to depredating insects. If manure 
is freely given between the trees, the soil will be thus so 
much imprvovd as to serve for raising the most abundant crops 
of vegetable roots: particularly, turnips and potatoes. The 
former are peculiarly calculated for this purpose ; as they 
do not exhaust the soil in any degree equal to the impover- 
ishing effects of the latter. In fact, in order to secure the 
very best results, the grown up orchard also should be as 
well manured, and as highly cultivated as a garden, and the 
soil kept loose and light all the time, no other crops being 
allowed among the trees. 

A correspondent some years ago, under the signature T., 
in the Albany Cultivator, gives the following very valuable, 
advice in regard to the culture and management of fruit trees. 

" Nothing has operated more to check improvement, than 
the neglect of young trees after they are once set out. The 
man who plants fifty peach trees into meadow ground, and 
loses one half by being smothered with the growth of 
the grass, and the other half the following Winter, by 
the gnawings of meadow mice, will not be long in becom- 
ing disheartened in fruit culture. He who sets out a hundred 
apple trees in grass land, or in ground devoted to the cul- 
tivation of wheat and oats, where tripple the time necessarily 
required, elapses before the trees bear, satisfies himself and 
his neighbors that he who plants young trees only plants for 
posterity. No conclusion can be more erroneous, no practice 
more pernicious to horticultural improvement. When the 
best management is given — and the best is incomparably the 
cheapest and most economical — young trees, no larger than 
a carriage whip, may be brought into a good bearing state, in 



OKCHARDS. 89 

an incredibly short time. One of the finest, most productive 
and most profitable peach orchards in the whole State of 
New York, is only seven years since setting out. No crop is 
raised among the trees, but the ground is kept clean and 
mellow by plowing and harrowing. A very celebrated fruit 
garden and orchard was planted by the proprietor after age 
had marked his hair with silvery whiteness ; he has now for 
twenty years enjoyed the luxury of plentiful crops from his 
trees, and is still in the vigor of life. His success was chiefly 
owing to good transplanting — digging the holes six feet in 
diameter, and filling them with fine rich earth — and to 
thorough cultivation of the soil for several subsequent years. 
There are various degrees of good and bad treatment, 
which from their common or uncommon occurrence, deserve 
to be pointed out. 

1. The worst of all is to transplant young trees to a mea- 
dow, and worst of all a clover meadow. An orchard of sev- 
eral hundred peach trees was noticed last Summer, which 
had been set out in a clover lot the previous Spring or 
Autumn, and though the trees appeared to have been of fine 
growth before transplanting, not one in twenty was alive. If 
it ever becomes necessary to set out young trees in meadow 
ground, each row must stand on a ploughed strip of land, at 
least seven feet wide, kept constantly clean and mellow. 

2. Next to meadows, placing young trees among grain 
crops sown broadcast is the worst. They may in such cir- 
cumstances, survive removal, but, it is impossible for them 
to make much growth. Young trees, standing in well hoed 
potato crops, have been observed to make at least six times 
greater length of growth in one season than trees standing 
in wheat fields. Corn, though greatly shading young trees 
by its tall growth, is far better than wheat, oats or barley, in 
consequence of the hoeing and cultivation which is given. 

3. The only crops which should be tolerated, are low, hoed 
crops, as ruta bagas, carrots, field beets, potatoes, &c. 

4. But the best mode altogether, is to keep the ground 
clean and mellow for several feet distant (six to ten) from 
the young trees. 



90 ORCHARDS. 

" While trees are yet young and small, the wide intermedi- 
ate spaces between the rows may be cultivated with roots, 
leaving about one-third of the land in unoccupied strips next 
the trees. But when the trees become large, it is far the 
best not to attempt the raising of any other than the fruit 
crop. If the trees are of good varieties, the increase in the 
amount borne, and in the quality and value, where the whole 
surface is left perfectly free for annual ploughing and monthly 
harrowing, will many times overbalance the worth of any 
other crop, which may be derived from the ground, to say 
nothing of the inconvenience resulting from treading down 
this other crop in gathering the fruit. All crops necessarily 
abstract the nourishment which should go to the tree, and pre- 
vent that thorough and constant stirring which should be given 
to the soil. Young trees, the past season, were found to have 
made nearly double the growth, where the soil was kept clean 
and unincumbered, compared with those which stood among 
well cultivated root crops." 

There are many and various modes employed by unskillful 
and negligent farmers to injure or destroy their young trees. 
Some will set them out in the most approved mode recom- 
mended by the fathers in horticulture, and, afterculture is 
never thought of by them. They neglect to inclose the young 
orchard with a sufficient fence, and the milch cows go there 
and prune them for him. Another will suffer the scions to 
remain out of the ground, until the sun, wind and frost have 
shriveled them past redemption, and his buckets of water will 
avail nothing. Others plant well — put the orchard in grass, a 
luxuriant crop of hay is grown, a dry season comes on, and 
the trees are dried up, smothered and lost. In this case, 
perhaps, the nurseryman is blamed for sending out sickly trees 
in improper condition. But the two great causes of the un- 
successful setting of young orchards, in the South, are, plant- 
ing too deep and the neglect of afterculture. 

In Thomas' excellent book, "The Fruit Culturist," we find 
the following directions for ploughing among fruit trees. 

"Arrange the horses, when they work near the line of trees, 
one before the other, tandem; let a boy ride the forward one, 



ORCHARDS. 91 

use long traces, and a short whiffle-tree (single-tree) and 
place the whole in charge of a careful man, who knows that 
one tree is worth more tha fifty hills of corn or potatoes, 
and no danger may be feared." It is, however, safest to use the 
mattock or spading-fork just under the trees, whether they be 
large or small, and whether the trees have been mulched or 
not. If the mulch is in the way, remove a part of it and re- 
place it when the work is done. If trees are well mulched, 
say 3 or 4 inches in depth, and as far out as the limbs extend, 
they require but little work immediately under the tree. It 
is improper to mulch too deep, as the air and warmth may be 
excluded to the disadvantage of the health and free growth 
of the trees. In working under the trees, the spading-fork is 
better than the spade or plough, as there is much less damage 
done to the roots, when that implement is carefully used. 

In the usual way of ploughing orchards, the careless plough- 
man will have to be strictly watched. He will be very apt to 
allow the top of his hames to bruise and break these tender 
spreading branches nearest the ground. If he can get his 
single-tree near enough, he will tear off a portion of the ten- 
der bark of the trunk, and, if the wound is large, the tree is 
fatally injured, and had as well be removed and another put 
in its place. These injuries are frequently inflicted by igno- 
rant, thoughtless persons, who can form no proper estimate of 
the damage thus sustained by the tree 

The thrift and free growth of young trees may be greatly 
accelerated by the use of diluted soft soap, home-made is best ; 
rub it en up and down the stem, with a coarse rag or brush, 
as has already been recommended in this work. The author 
has practiced this in his own orchard, and knows it will act as 
a charm. It loosens and takes off the moss and any extraneous 
matter adhering to the stems, including insects, their eggs, 
larva, cocoons, &c, and the process may be extended to the 
larger limbs as far as a man can reach. This operation is 
best performed in the Spring, and once or twice during the 
Summer and Fall. Grown up trees may be treated in the 
same way, provided they have been well scraped, so as not to 
injure the smooth bark, with a hoe or some other dull tool, 



92 ORCHARDS. 

to remove the rough bark that curls up and is ready to peel 
off; and which is the hiding place for insects. Besides these 
advantages, the soapsuds [which must not be too thick or too * 
strong for very young trees) is diluted by the rains and grad- 
ually washed off, nourishing the roots and leaving the young 
stems smooth and green. This stimulating process is so highly 
beneficial to the luxuriant growth of young trees, that the 
farmer or orchardist should not fail to practice it. The old 
and the grown up trees of the orchard may receive the same 
treatment, and with the same satisfactory results ; and the 
size, flavor and quality of the fruit will be greatly improved. 

In illustration of our ideas on this subject, we append the 
following extract from an article on Fruit, by J. S. Skinner, 
of the " Farmers' Cabinet," written about twenty-three years 
ago: 

"From some facts which I have seen but lately, apparently 
on good authority, I am inclined to think that, like some ani- 
mals, fruit trees become hide bound, and that like them, also, 
a good scrubbing and cleaning, to open the pores and promote 
free perspiration, would greatly contribute to their health. I 
have lately met with the following statement, which seems 
highly worthy of attention. It is known to all who know 
anything of botany, that the bark of a tree when divided 
horizontally, presents three parts ; liber, or inner bark, which 
lies next to the wood; the cellular tissue, or parenchyma, 
distinguished in the bark of a tree by its fine color, but color- 
less in the bark of the roots ; and lastly, the epidermis, or 
outward bark, which is the universal covering of every part 
of a tree. Now the experiment to which I refer, to ascertain 
the effect of removing this rough, hardened epidermis, or out- 
side coating, from the trunk and limbs of a very large and 
aged pear tree, was this : the limbs, or branches of the tree, 
as is often the case in Europe, were trained espalier fashion, 
or horizontally along the west wall, the branches extending 
in the most perfect order on each side of the large trunk. 
The stem or body of the tree was cleared of the rough epi- 
dermis entirely, and the branches on one side also were treated 
in like manner. The branches which extend on the other 



ORCHAKDS. 93 

side of the stem, had only every alternate branch stripped of 
the rough, hardened epidermis. Previously to this, the tree 
had for many years ceased to bear fruit, except occasionally 
one or two at the extremity of the upper branches. The first 
season after the above operation," the- foliage assumed a lux- 
uriant and healthy appearance on the decorticated half of the 
branches, and, in the course of the second year, numerous 
fruit buds were formed, which in due time produced a fine 
crop of fruit of excellent quality, while those on the other 
side, on which the epidermis was suffered to remain, continued 
barren. The application of soft soap (soapsuds, he has it) 
would have secured a yet higher degree of health and fertility. 
I have observed in the garden of John Willis, at Oxford, in 
Maryland — one of the best practical horticulturists I ever 
knew — that the bodies of his bearing fruit trees were — to use 
almost the strongest figure I can employ — as smooth, as clean, 
as polished, and as fresh looking as the arm of a beautiful 
young bride when just stripped of its glove to receive the 
wedding ring. The truth is, disguise or shy it as we may, 
young trees require as much watching and cleaning, washing 
and nursing, and to undergo as many vermifugent opera- 
tions as young children do; and those who cannot make up 
their minds to bestow strict and careful attention on both, 
had better make up their minds not to get either the one or 
the other ; for in both cases they will deserve the stigma, 
which should always be affixed to cruel and unnatural parents, 
who wilfully neglect their young ones." 

The above article called forth at the time the following 
piquant but complimentary remarks from Mr. Botts, editor of 
the Southern Planter : 

"As soon as we came to the women and children mixed up 
with apple, pear and plum trees, we knew whose signature 
we should find appended to the communication which we have 
transcribed from the "Farmers' Cabinet." Mr. Skinner is 
one of the most racy, piquant and original writers in this 
country." 

It is to be hoped the young farmer will not be deterred 
from his operations in the orchard, or anywise discouraged by 



94 ORCHARDS. 

what Mr. Skinner has said concerning the "washing and 
nursing" of young trees. 'Nothing valuable is attained with- 
out some labor and attention, and the rewards of both are 
sure — especially as regards fruit culture. It is pleasant 
and healthful to work among the trees, and it is attended with 
results satisfactory in ratio with the means expended. 

ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON CULTIVATION AND 
THOROUGH PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 

It may not be improper in this place to reiterate and 
still further insist on the importance of thorough prepa- 
ration of the soil intended for fruit trees — and, indeed, 
for nearly all vegetable crops. The labor thus expended in 
advance, may be somewhat tedious, and, perhaps, expensive, 
but it is capital well laid out ; for the after culture will always 
be light and easy, when the soil is once well and deeply bro- 
ken, and the manure well mixed with the soil, if it is needed; 
thrift, free growth, and early bearing are secured, and the 
benefit appertaining to all these things, is exactly in proportion 
to the degree of drainage, pulverization, &c, of the soil thus 
thoroughly effected. 

If we study the nature and character of plants, says a 
Western writer, we find that they take up food through their 
roots — chiefly through the ends of their roots, which are called 
spongioles, from their resemblance to a sponge — which is 
carried in the sap to the leaves and branches, where it extracts 
other nourishment from the air. This food can only be taken 
up in a solution of water, and consequently there must be 
moisture in the soil if we expect plants to thrive. In order 
to do this, we must loosen the soil, so that the roots can get 
down where the moisture is. In a dry time we need not ex- 
pect tender roots to force their way where it is impossible for 
a strong man to force a crowbar. We must mellow up the 
soil. All agree that we can raise crops of every description, 
if it will only rain when we need it. But we cannot make it 
rain, and we must find some way to get moisture without it. 
Can we do this? I think we can, and will attempt to show 
how. It must be done by deep ploughing, and thorough cul- 



ORCHARDS. 95 

tivation. All lands do not require deep ploughing — such as 
have an open, porous subsoil for five or six feet or more, like 
the Missouri bottoms, some of the lands in the vicinity of 
Kansas City, and some other sections of the State. What 
we say in favor of deep ploughing, we think applicable to 
our immediate vicinity, where we have a tenacious subsoil 
within a few inches of the surface There is always the same 
amount of water in and about the earth's surface. It is either 
in the ground or in the atmosphere, in the form of vapor. In 
the winter, there is more in the ground than in summer, for 
the reason that the heat of the sun evaporates it, and it exists 
in the air in vapor. Whenever this vapor comes in contact 
with substances colder than itself, it gives up its hea,t and is 
condensed, again becoming water. We can see it in summer 
collected upon the outside of a pitcher of water. The pitcher 
looks as though it was sweating. No one believes that it 
comes through the pitcher; it must come from the air. If 
we breathe upon an axe in winter, we see it covered with frost 
or frozen vapor. The cold comes from the axe, the water 
from the breath. In summer, every night, when the ground 
is not too much parched, the cold earth receives moisture from 
the atmosphere in the form of dew. The same process takes 
place in the soil. 

When we open the soil, and mellow it up deep, so as to 
allow the air to circulate freely among its particles, and reach 
the lower and cooler portions, the process of condensation takes 
place, and moisture is abstracted ; but unless we plough deep 
enough, so that the soil below is cooler than the air, no dew 
will be deposited. If we take two vessels of pulverized earth, 
one six, the other eighteen inches deep, and place them in the 
sun, the one eighteen inches deep will be quite moist at the 
bottom, while the other will be quite as dry as though baked 
in an oven. The one six inches deep becomes hot, and all the 
water is evaporated or boiled out of it, while the other is cool 
and condenses moisture from the atmosphere. Some will say 
there is no moisture in the soil, in a dry time, two feet below 
the surface. That is true, unless the ground is mellow. If 
it is hard pan, it is impossible for the air to circulate there and 



96 ORCHARDS. 

give up its moisture. We would not advise turning the surface 
soil so very deep all at once, (unless the land is intended for 
an orchard). Six inches would do no harm ; but the ground 
below should be mellowed with a subsoil plough. This is an 
instrument that runs along in the ground like a mole, in the 
bottom of a furrow made by the common plough, raising and 
pulverizing the earth, breaking up the compact, cold and 
water-proof under-stratum of heavy soil, allowing it to fall 
back in its former place and leaving, the thin layer of vege- 
table mold on top where nature placed it. A tolerable good 
substitute for the subsoil plough is a narrow, sharp shovel- 
plough, with a long shank, that would follow in the bottom of 
the other furrow without throwing the dirt out. (A new- 
ground coulter is also a good substitute for the subsoil plough.) 
The most convenient and expeditious way to subsoil, is to 
have one team attached to the common plough, and with an- 
other to follow immediately behind with the subsoil plough in 
every furrow ; although one team might do the work by 
changing ploughs every round. 

The effects of all ploughing, whether deep or shallow, is to 
admit air, and consequently moisture, to the soil, and to allow 
the roots to travel to a greater depth into the loosened par- 
ticles in search of food. The subsoil often contains matters 
which are deficient in the surface soil. By deep ploughing 
these are rendered available, and we admit an increased sup- 
ply of atmospheric fertilizers. 

PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES. 

Pruning in gardening and the culture of trees, denotes the 
lopping off exuberant or diseased branches, with a view to 
render trees more healthful and fruitful ; to make them grow 
higher, and with greater regularity ; to produce larger and 
better tasted fruit, and to give them a more handsome and 
regular appearance. 

Fruit trees in this country are generally grown as standards, 
especially apple trees. In this way they require less care, 
are better able to develop their natural forms, attain the most 
rapid growth, and largest size, and bear the greatest quantity 



ORCHARDS. 97 

and best quality of fruit, with less labor than in any other 
mode. The bright sun of our clime reaching through and 
pervading all parts of the tree, supersedes the necessity of 
those nice and minute systems of pruning, so largely illus- 
trated and described by British authors on fruit culture. Such 
practice is of little or no use here, and our favorable climate 
gives us all this advantage over their particular and tedious 
operations in this branch of tree culture, made necessary by 
an. uncongenial climate. 

With respect to standards, Mr. Bucknall says, it will "be 
advisable to shorten their branches only, when they are either 
too luxuriant, or, by growing irregularly, divert the current of 
the sap, and consequently weaken the whole. In such case, 
the more vigorous sprouts ought to be closely cut down, in 
order to strengthen the other parts ; but these amputations 
should not be performed on stone fruit trees, which are very 
liable to become affected with the gum, and thus, in a short 
time, to perish. It will, therefore, be necessary in the lat- 
ter instance, to pinch the straggling shoots early in the 
Spring .... But all decaying, or apparently dead branches, 
whether belonging to wall or other fruit trees, ought to be 
pruned close to the stem ; because by attracting noxious par- 
ticles from the air, and admitting too great a degree of moist- 
ure into the tree, such useless parts contaminate the balsamic 
virtues of the sap, and thus eventually cause the destruction 
of the tree, by affording a nest in which insects will deposit 
their eggs . . . Lastly, all branches that intersect each 
other and thus occasion a confusion in the crown of the tree, 
ought likewise to be carefully removed ; and as vigorous 
young shoots often spring from old arms near the trunk, and 
grow up into the head, they must be annually exterminated ; 
lest they should fill the tree with too much wood. 

In regard to the proper period for commencing this opera- 
tion on fruit trees, especially in orchards, Mr. Bucknall is 
of opinion that pruning should be practiced in the nursery, 
and regularly continued to "the extremity of old age." Thus 
it will be advisable to take off only a small quantity of wood 
at one time; and by employing his " medication," (or some 



98 ORCHARDS. 

kind of paint or composition), the wounds "will heal without 
causino- any more blemishes in the tree than those to which it 
was subject, at the time when the branch was separated. If 
such tree, however, be very old and much encumbered with use- 
less wood, it will be proper to cut off all decayed, rotten, or 
blighted branches, previously to the operation; and to rub 
them with the preparation above alluded to, with a view to ex- 
clude the rain and cold winds . . . Lastly, Mr. B. observes, 
the rest may be left to the discretion of each person, who will 
soon see how much is necessary ; self-conviction being the 
best school for improvement." 

The following excellent directions respecting pruning trees, 
have been published before ; and though the substance of them 
are already given in the course of this work, yet the manner 
in which they are here presented to the reader, will be of 
advantage, as they cannot be too strongly enforced. 

" Any time in the month of March is a proper season to 
prune your trees : mind nothing about the moon, for she 
concerns herself little about you or. your trees, and the sign is 
always in the right place when it makes you industrious . . . 
There is no part of a farm that yields so great profit with so 
little labor as the well cultivated orchard. 

"Young trees require to be pruned every year as well as the 
old. You should never suffer a sucker to remain near the 
root, from one year to another, nor by any means upon the 
body or trunk, which you do not intend shall be permanent. 
. In pruning old trees, and those which have gotten their 
growth, observe the following rules : 

Cut away no limb near the trunk, nor indeed at any dis- 
tance from it, which is too large at the place of incision to 
heal or to close over again ; this may be determined by the 
thriftiness of the tree, as well as by the size. If by neglect 
you have suffered a limb to stand, till it has attained its 
growth, it must stand otherwise, by extirpating it, (unless de- 
fended by- l Forsyth's composition), you give the tree its 
death wound by opening an avenue to the air and water, 
which induce rottenness, and, in course of time, the limb or 
trunk becomes hollow, frequently to the roots. 



ORCHARDS. 99 

For this reason, no sprout should be suffered to remain in 
or near the body of the sapling, which is not designed shall 
stand when it has attained its full growth. The long life of 
different orchards, soil and situation being equal, will depend 
more on the above management than on any other circum- 
stance. 

"In trimming an orchard, great patience and industry are 
required, which will be amply rewarded at the harvest. You 
must not only remove all the dead and dry branches, but ex- 
tirpate every unnecessary twig and sucker, from each branch, 
to its very extremity. 

" The more of this labor that is performed, if performed with 
judgment, the more thrifty will the tree become and the fruit will 
not only be increased in quantity but much improved in quality. 

"When the tops of the branches of your apple trees begin 
to die, (which will be much retarded by the above treatment) 
they ought to be immediately regenerated, by giving what is 
called a new top : This is done by cutting off a few feet of 
their extremities, over the whole tree, except cherries, accor- 
ding to Forsyth, so as to leave it in a proper form ; if the 
trunk is yet tolerably sound, the new branches will grow 
thriftily, and bear luxuriantly ; and, if you wish to vary your 
fruit, the sprouts after one year's growth, and most frequently 
the same year, will be fit for inoculating, which succeeds 
equally well in the old as in the young trees, and with which 
every farmer ought to be acquainted." 

As a general thing in ordinary practice, a careful pruning 
•to regulate the form and growth of standard trees is about all 
that is necessary. 

Every fruit tree, sags Downing, should be alloived to take 
its natural form, the whole efforts of .the primer going no 
farther than to take out all weak and crowded branches. 

The pruning of large limbs should be avoided by taking 
out the superfluous shoots while they are small and tender. 
Mr. Coxe, in his useful work on American fruit trees, 
says, " when orchard trees are much pruned, they are apt to 
throw out numerous (superfluous) suckers from the boughs in 
the following Summer ; these should be nibbed off when they 



100 ORCHARDS. 

first appear, or they may be easily broken off while young 
and brittle, cutting is apt to increase their number. 

In a healthy, well-shaped tree, pruning is considered" worse 
than useless," except the keeping down of a few water sprouts 
and suckers at the roots. It should be recollected that the 
free growth of a tree somewhat corresponds with, and is de- 
pendent on the action of the leaves and limbs ; that if these 
are properly distributed and in due proportion, perfect health 
is secured, and the use of the knife is but little required. 

The best time for pruning to favor luxuriant growth, accord- 
ing to the theory generally received by orchardists, is in the 
Fall season, just after the fall of the leaf. "Winter is next 
best, performed in the mildest of the weather, and, in orchard 
pruning, this is the most convenient season. There are favor- 
able and unfavorable times appertaining to all seasons for 
pruning fruit trees. One of the best American authors, whose 
authority is undisputed, remarks, " that for pruning in the 
Northern and Middle states, a fortnight before mid-Summer 
is by far the best season, on the whole, for pruning' '. We see 
no good reason why it should not be in the Southern or Wes- 
tern states. The same author continues : "Wounds made at 
this season heal over freely and rapidly; it is also the most favor- 
able time to judge of the shape and balance of the head, and 
to see at a glance which branches require removal ; and all 
the stock of organizable matter in the tree is directed to the 
branches that remain." 

When it is necessary to separate large limbs, the saw 
should be used ; one that is open, with fine teeth, and in good 
order is best. If the branches are not very large, what is 
called by carpenters a " tennon saw," is much more conven- 
ient and less liable to injure the bark. 

For small limbs, viz : those from one inch and less in diam- 
eter, a pruning chisel is used, and is the most convenient im- 
plement. It is a socket chisel, blade about eight inches long, 



ORCHARDS. 101 

and two inches wide, socket, say five inches long, with basle 
on one side df about twelve degrees, the edges in the shape of 
a V. It is used with a long handle and a wooden mallet to 
drive it. 

In removing large limbs, it is important to use some kind 
of composition to cover the wound, and keep out the water 
and air, and prevent the wood from cracking until the wound 
is healed and covered with new bark. The composition is 
also useful in case of the accidental wounding of a tree, 
breakage of large limbs from high winds or excessive weight 
of fruit. 

"Shall we grow trees with branches starting from the ground, 
or, shall we prune; and to what height? These and similar 
questions, are now often asked. We think it would be super- 
fluous to give any instructions in growing fruit trees to low 
heads, since for the past sixteen or eighteen years, all our 
journals both horticultural and agricultural, have vied with 
each other in descriptions, how best to accomplish, as they 
supposed, so desirable a result. Indeed, so much has been 
written on this point, that we have gone from trunks six to 
eight feet high, down to as many inches. These low headed 
orchards on coming into bearing, have disappointed, or must 
soon disappoint their owners. The conditions attending the 
growing fruits are now so changed from what they were a few 
years since, that trees with low heads, are, in the main, no longer 
a success. They increase the labor of cultivation many fold. The 
low branches cut off the under circulation, inducing disease in 
the foliage, if not in the fruit. They invite insect enemies, and 
make it difficult, if not impracticable, to arrest their ravages. 
In short, low heads are a failure, and the sooner we can in- 
duce people to start the heads of their trees at a proper 
height, the sooner will it be possible to successfully destroy 
insects, to ward off diseases, to insure color to the fruit, and 
make it practicable to cultivate near the trees by means of 
horse power." 

The above paragraph, from the pen of Dr. E. S. Hull of 
Alton, Illinois, is valuable, and coincides with. our own views 
on the subject. We do not understand, however, what he 



102 "***■ ORCHARDS. 



means by sayingHfiat "the conditions attending the growing 
fruits, are now so changed from what they were but a few 
years since that trees with low heads are no longer a suc- 
cess." We known of no change attending the conditions 
of our fruits. 

LOW HEADS RECOMMENDED. 

Maj. Brooks, at a discussion on apples at the New York 
State Fair in 1866, recommends low heads for apple trees. 

"Trees have a tendency to produce a surplus of wood; if 
it all remains the branches are feebly nourished, and some 
die of starvation, after robbing the others. I think that 
most trees need to be renewed, like grape-vines, by an an- 
nual and moderate removal of small and superfluous branches, 
never large ones. I will add that trees, when young, show 
an inclination to branch low, which, I think, ought to be re- 
spected. Low heads greatly favor picking. Mr. Francis, of 
York, picked from low trees thirty-two barrels of apples in a 
day. Low branches mulch the ground partially, and in a 
degree obviate the necessity of ploughing. 

"Another great fault is the omission to *fork over the 
ground, or plough it light, often succeeded by deep and reck- 
less ploughing, to the injury of the roots, and often the de- 
struction of the tree. When the ground is regularly ploughed' 
every year or two, and at a uniform depth, the roots will es- 
tablish themselves below the ploughing, and if the soil is 
deep they will do very well. But if cultivation is omitted 
for several years, the roots indulge their natural habit of 
running near the surface, and then deep ploughing destroys 
many of the tree's best supports. This is especially so on 
hard pan and cold tenacious sub-soils, which drive the roots 
to the surface. Roots know better where to go than man can 
tell them. Nature's method of cultivation is by covering 
the ground with leaves, at once manuring the soil and mak- 

A good strong garden fork is a valuable tool to work the soil beneath 
all fruit trees, and, when it is well used, there is no need of the plow 
immediately under the tree. Its use is far less liable to injure the roots, 
and the pulverizing of the ground is equally well or better done than 
could be accomplished by the plow, or even the mattock. 



ORCHARDS. 103 

ing it light and acceptable, as no other process can. Mulch- 
ing, where leaves and litter can be obtained, is a wonderfully 
cheap and beneficial expedient, and, in my opinion, may well 
take the place of ploughing and the attendant cropping, 
which has doubtless done much to render a majority of our 
orchards unproductive." 

The reader will pardon us for introducing the above short 
digression, as the writer's remarks are instructive and spicy. 

CAUTIONS IN PRUNING. 

In pruning very young trees, side shoots should not be cut 
off close, but take them off a few inches from the stem. If 
cut close, it will induce weakness in the stem, the trees will 
bend over, and no manner of staking can save them. In that 
case they had better be cut off at the ground, and let them 
put up anew. Young trees with numerous branches, taper 
off the stem as they branch off upward, which proves that 
each branch gives additional strength to the trunk below it ; 
as the stem or trunk enlarges and strengthens, take them off 
close. 

Never allow any person to throw sticks or stones among 
the branches of any fruit trees, for the purpose of getting 
down straggling apples, or other fruit, as the bark will be 
bruised and injured, and it will sometimes cause the decay of 
the best limbs in the tree. 

No person pruning a tree or gathering fruit, should go 
among the branches with hard boots or shoes on, at any sea- 
son, and more especially when the sap is up and the bark will 
peel. Unless carefully used, the ladders to gather fruit will 
bark, bruise and break the -limbs, inducing canker and caus- 
ing rotten limbs. 

MEDICATION FOR THE WOUNDS OF FRUIT TREES. 

Forsyth's Composition. — Take fresh cow-dung and mix 
with it human urine and soap-suds ; when well mixed, it should 
be of the consistence of thick paint. It should be laid on 
the wounded parts with a painter's brush to the thickness of 



104 ORCHARDS. 

about one-eighth of an inch, and the edges finished off as 
thin as possible. Next, five parts of dry pulverized wood 
ashes should be mixed with one part of bone-ashes or dust, 
and then put into a tin box, the top of which is perforated 
with holes. The powder must be sprinkled over the surface 
of the composition, being suffered to remain half an hour for 
absorbing the moisture, when an additional portion of the 
powder should be gently applied with the hand, till the whole 
plaster acquire a smooth surface. As the edges of such ex- 
cisions grow up, care ought to be taken that no new wood 
may come in contact with the decayed ; for which purpose it 
will be advisable to cut out the latter, in proportion as the 
former advances ; a hollow space being left between both, in 
order that the newly-grown wood may have sufficient room to 
extend, and fill up the cavity, so that in a manner it forms a 
new tree. By this process old and decayed trees have, in the 
second season after its application, produced fruit of the best 
quality and finest flavor; nay, in the course of three or four 
years, they yielded such abundant crops, as young healthy 
trees could not have borne in 15 or 20 years. Previously to 
the application, of the plaster Mr. F. directs all decayed, hoi-' 
low, loose, rotten, injured, diseased and dead parts to be cut 
away, till the knife extend to the sound or solid wood, so as 
to leave the surface perfectly smooth, when the composition 
prepared in the manner above described should be applied. 

PRUNING AND GRAFTING COMPOSITIONS. 

Grafting Composition may be used on all wounded parts 
of a tree. It is made of one part beef tallow, two parts 
beeswax, four parts white resin, melted and well mixed — pour 
it in a vessel of cold water and work and pull well, as in 
making shoemaker's wax. This mixture is not liable to be- 
come too soft or melt in warm weather, nor too hard for use 
in cold weather.- Be careful to have it of proper temper, so 
that when applied in cold weather, it will not peel off. It 
should be pressed closely to the wounded parts, in order that 
moisture and air may be. excluded, whether used in grafting or 
pruning. 



ORCHARDS. 105 

Composition Cloth is made by dipping strips of thin 
cloth into the above composition, and drawing it between two 
sticks to get off the superfluous matter. They may then be 
torn into narrower strips to suit the purpose for which they are 
intended. These bands being weak will yield as the limb ex- 
pands, so that no injury may be apprehended from their 
tightness. 

Clay for Grafting is not so convenient, but it is as good 
as any other plaster. When nothing is used with it, it is ne- 
cessary to use bandages of rags, tow or the like, winding it 
around to support the clay. The best clay composition may 
be prepared by mixing pure clay with an equal quantity of 
fine, fresh horse manure, with any fine hair worked into it. 
If the clay is very tenacious, work in a little fine sand to re- 
duce the strength of the clay. The proportions may be va- 
ried according to the strength of the clay — some kind of 
bands must be used to bind it closely to the stock and graft 
when used in grafting. 

Plaster for Large Wounds. — Take equal parts fresh 
cow-dung and clay well mixed and tempered with human 
urine. When there are large hollows, cut out all the rotten 
and decayed wood and fill the cavity well with the composi- 
tion — finish the outer edge well and smoothly. It may be 
applied with a garden or bricklayer's trowel. If in shrink- 
ing the surface becomes cracked, fill in with more of the com- 
position. 

Shellac Composition. — Alcohol and shellac are used by 
dissolving the shellac until it is of the consistence of thick 
paint — apply with a painter's brush. This is a very conve- 
nient and elegant plaster — it excludes air and water, and is 
not affected by cold or hot weather. It may be made in the 
following manner: Take one pint of strong spirits and dis- 
solve it in as much shellac as will make a liquid of the con- 
sistence of paint. Apply this to the wound with a common 
painter's brush, always paring the surface of the wound 
smoothly with the knife. The liquid soon becomes perfectly 
hard, adheres closely, excludes the air perfectly, and is affected 
by no changes of weather; while at the same time its thin- 



106 ORCHARDS. 

ness offers no resistance to the lip of new wood and bark that 
gradually closes over the wound. If this composition is kept 
in a well-corked bottle, sufficiently wide-mouthed to admit the 
brush, it will always be ready for use and suited to the want 
of the moment. This is Mr. Downing's receipt. 

Composition of White Lead. — The most convenient, 
simple and cheap, as well as the best composition for pruning, 
or for spreading over any large wounds, is simply white lead 
and oil mixed with a little lamp-black to give it a light lead 
color (if white is objectionable). This will remain longer 
and has all the good qualities of the "Shellac and Alcohol" 
Composition. It should be applied with a painter's brush, 
and, if necessary, a second and even a third coat may be ap- 
plied to large incisions. The author of this work can recom- 
mend this mixture as being the very best for applying to 
wounds, large or small. It does not answer so well for a 
grafting composition. 

COMPOSITIONS AND WASHES. 

When large wounds are to be covered, or the cavities of 
large limbs to be filled and plastered, the following composi- 
tion is about the best that can be applied: (the solid wood 
had better be painted) The plaster is made of equal parts 
of clay, garden mould, and fresh cow-dung, tempered and 
made pliable with urine. 

The health and vegetation of trees may be greatly pro- 
moted by scraping them ; by cutting away the cankered parts ; 
and by washing their stems annually, in the month of Feb- 
ruary or March, or even later, with strong soap suds. 

A wash highly recommended for this purpose is made as 
folloAVS : prepare a mixture of fresh cowdung, urine and 
soap-suds — the composition to be applied to the stems and 
branches of fruit or forest trees, in the same manner as the 
ceilings of rooms are white-washed. It is best to apply it 
with a large paint brush or coarse rag — for small trees, the 
rag is best, as it will rub off any extraneous matter adhering 
to the bark, giving it a smooth surface. (Diluted soap-suds 



ORCHARDS. 10T 

is still better ; but it should not be put on too strong for very 
young trees.) This operation will not only destroy the eggs 
of insects, that are hatched during the Spring and Summer, 
but also prevents the growth of moss ; and if repeated in. 
Autumn, after the fall of the leaves, it will kill the eggs 
of those numerous insects, which are hatched during 
that season ; thus greatly contributing to the nourishment 
and growth of the tree, and preserving its barkin a fine 
healthy state. 

TRAINING. 

Training in gardening, is the operation or art of form- 
ing young trees to a wall or espalier, or of causing them 
to grow in a shape suitable to that end. According to. 
the British mode training is of but very little use in the 
United States, and more especially it is a useless job in 
the Southern and Western states ; as we have a sufficiently 
dry climate, and hot sun to secure the perfect growth and 
maturity of the apple, peach and pear, and other valuable fruits, 
without resorting to this tedious, lengthy and troublesome 
process to mature fruits. The only objects of training, accor- 
ding to the British acceptation of the term, is to secure a more 
complete exposure of the leaves and branches to the light and 
sun, to ripen their fruits in a naturally damp, showery and 
unfavorable climate. Training in that climate greatly pro- 
motes fruitfulness. It retards luxuriance of growth and dim- 
inishes the vigor of the trees. Space is a great object in Euro- 
pean gardens, and trained trees occupy much less ground 
than standards, by having a flat surface to correspond with a 
wall or espalier. 

Training, although useless in many respects here, is, never- 
theless, very convenient in a small garden. It gives a very 
beautiful and tasty appearance, and furnishes very superior 
specimens of fruit. It is practiced to considerable extent in 
the neighborhood of Boston, and fruit is cultivated in this 
way, in some situations still farther north. There are various 
modes ; such as fan training, horizontal training, geonoville or 
conical training, spiral training, pyramidical training, etc. The 



108 ORCHARDS. 

advantages of training in a cold or moist climate cannot be 
appreciated here, and we can raise the best of fruit without 
any such trouble or expense ; allowing our standards to take 
pretty much their natural shape, thereby securing the full 
crops resulting from unrestrained growth, and the natural 
spreading out of the branches freely to the sun and air. 

Pyramidical Ttaining is a very beautiful form suited to 
apples and pears. It is an easy and simple mode, and has 
come into general favor with amateurs. The conical form is 
also much admired. " There can scarcely be a more beauti- 
ful display of the art of the horticulturist, than a fine row 
of trained trees, their branches arranged with the utmost 
symmetry and regularity, and covered in the fruit season with 
large and richly colored fruit." The conical training is a very 
simple and easy mode. It is mostly applied to pears, which, 
when treated in this way, may be planted eight feet apart, 
and thus a great variety of sorts may be planted in a small 
garden. 

Tree Training is different from common tree form ; that 
being only a modification or limited training. It is intended to 
produce low and long branches by cutting back the stem, and 
retarding the growth of the upper limbs, until the lower ones 
grow large and strong from excess of light and exposure to 
the sun. It is said " nothing surprises a British gardener 
more, knowing the cold of our Winter, than the first sight of 
peaches and other fine fruits arriving at full perfection in the 
Middle. States, with so little care ; he sees at once that three- 
fourths of the great expense of a fruit garden is here 
rendered needless." 

"WHAT ARE DWARF TREES?" 

This question is asked and answered by "Tilton's Journal 
of Horticulture." They are trees grafted on slow growing 
stock, which would not attain so large a size as the species 
grafted on it. Dwarf pears are now grafted only upon 
quinces ; but formerly the thorn was used. They are less 
hardy than upon pear stocks, and require higher cultivation, 



ORCHARDS. 109 

and are, therefore, less adapted to orchard than to garden 
culture. For the latter, thej possess many advantages, the 
greatest of which is, that they come into bearing much sooner 
than standards. They also admit a greater variety in a small 
garden, and being within easy reach, can be much better con- 
trolled and trained than tall standards. Dwarf apples are 
grafted upon several species of shrubby apples known as Par- 
adise, or Doucin stocks. They frequently produce fruit when 
not more than two feet high, and are perfectly hardy. 

The cherry is dwarfed by grafting on the Primus Mahaleb, 
and is more hardy than on the Mazzard stock, which is used 
for standards. 

MULCHING FOR FRUIT TREES. 

Mulch is a Hebrew word, to dissolve. In English, "half rotten 
straw, leaves, or any coarse half decayed Utter." The benefits 
of mulching in Horticulture, as well as in Agriculture, can 
hardly be over-estimated ; especially when practiced in the 
Southern States. Leaves are the natural mulch for shrubs 
and trees of every description, and makes the best of all 
mulching. They retain sufficient moisture, and at the same 
time admit the air, that is also necessary for the growth and 
proper condition of the roots of shrubs, plants and trees. 
Half rotted straw, old hay, old tan, sea-weed, salt hay, saw- 
dust, (not pine,) shavings, or any coarse, decaying litter — all 
these aid in retaining moisture, and as they decompose, make 
the right kind of manure for trees 

In England, mulching is much practiced by gardeners, to 
keep the roots uniformly moist and cool. If an English cli- 
mate requires such practice, how much more valuable would 
it prove in the hot exposures of the south. In order to aid 
in retaining this desirable state of coolness and moisture for 
fruit trees, Professor Turner's theory, which relates to forming 
and keeping the head and branches of a tree low, so as to shade 
and shelter the stem and branches, and even the soil in which 
the roots grow, from violent sunshine, is worthy of extensive 
treatment in this way ; especially in those States south of 



110 ORCHAKDS. 

North Carolina. When the ground over the roots is exposed 
to the broad sunshine, then by all means cover the soil — two 
or three inches is deep enough — and, if you have no leaves or 
straw, use litter, bark, or any suitable covering that can be ob- 
tained. 

The "Rural South Carolinian" says, in regard to mulch- 
ing — " If mulching is employed at the time of planting trees, 
they will never need watering. Uniform temperature and a 
constant supply of moisture, are the prime elements of suc- 
cess in fruit culture. Mulching enables us to accomplish this. 
Mulching acts beneficially in other ways. It prevents, in a 
great degree, the cracking of fruit, and causes those va- 
rieties which are spotted and defaced, to become clean and 
covered with a rich bloom." Mulching young trees obviates 
the necessity of watering them, but in case of a long, dry 
spell, after planting, it may become necessary to give them 
water to save them. One pail of water, with the mulching to 
retain it and keep the ground from baking, will be of more 
service than six applied to the naked baked soil, exposed to 
the hot sun. If the mulching material is light and liable to 
be blown away from the roots, it is best to throw on a little 
soil to keep it in place. Mulching may sometimes interfere 
with cultivation. In that case it is only necessary to remove 
a portion of the litter, when the fork or mattock may be ap- 
plied, and a portion of the mulch worked into the soil, which 
will be all the better for the growth of the young trees and 
for the thrift, health, and maturity of fruit of the old. The 
mulching should be immediately replaced.* 

Among the improvements and arts of cultivation, all expe- 
rience proves the great benefits derived from mulching the 
ground around fruit trees, as a means of fertilization and a 

* A writer in the Country Gentleman says, •' The last Spring I set out 
one hundred apple trees, part of which I mulched with about fo \v inches 
of coarse hay and straw, and the rest, in pursuance of an article in the 
Country Gentleman, kept nicely hoed. Of the one hundred, all are liv- 
ing except one, but those not mulched have made the best growth, over 
a foot, notwithstanding the drought." 

A near neighbor, who set last year, has lost nearly half of his trees 
this summer ; but then he had the pleasure of harvesting & poor crop of 
oats, sowed close up to the trees. "A word to the wise," etc. 



ORCHARDS. Ill 

protection from drought and excessive heat, so common in the 
south and west during the middle or latter part of the Sum- 
mer season. This mulching? or shade, is required for all 
plants in their infancy, or, when they have suifered violence 
from removal. 

Note. — The advantages of mulching over clean culture is lessened in 
consequence of the shelter afforded by the former to depredating insects. 
This shelter, however, may be rendered very uncomfortable by mix ng 
tobacco stalks with the mulch, say 15 or 20 lbs. to each tree. "Walnut 
hulls, vines, and leaves will answer the same purpose. 

REMEDIES FOR THE REMOVAL OF MOSS. 

Moss, in Horticulture, is a disease which greatly impedes 
the free growth of young trees, and effects the thrift and 
health of those that are grown up, and, at the same time, very 
materially injures the fruit of orchards. 

The remedy usually employed is, to scrape off the moss 
with a kind of wooden knife, that will not wound the bark or 
branches ; or, to rub them with a strong hair cloth, or coarse 
woolen, immediately after a heavy rain. But the most 
effectual method, according to Mr. Bucknall, consists in 
washing all the affected branches with soap-suds, and a hard 
brush, every Spring and Autumn. The action of rubbing, 
he observes, will so far invigorate the tree as amply to com- 
pensate both the labor and expense : the plant will not be in- 
jured by this operation, which he directs should be performed 
in the same manner as a groom curries, or scrubs, the legs of 
a horse. (Moist weather, or directly after a rain, should be 
chosen for this business, as the moss may then be easily dis- 
engaged.) The most efficacious preventive, however, is to re- 
move the cause, by draining all superfluous moisture from the 
roots ; and, when the trees are first planted, by placing them 
on the surface of the ground and raising a small mound of 
good, fresh mould around them, (If this preventive, " placing 
the trees on the surface," was practiced in our dry, hot cli- 
mate, no mulching or watering would save the young scions, 
but it might answer very well ,in the cool, moist climate of 
England,) or in low, very moist lands in this country. 



112 ORCHAKDS. 

The moss, vegetating on shrubs, &c, is of various kinds, 
according to the nature and situation of the soil. If the 
young branches of trees are covered with long and shaggy 
moss, they will speedily perish; and can only be preserved 
by cutting them off at the trunk ; or, by lopping the head of 
the shrub or tree if it be found necessary ; as it will sprout 
out again with increased luxuriance. In thick plantations, 
however, and in cold ground, the trees will always be covered 
with moss : in such cases they must be thinned, and the land 
drained or deeply stirred. 

When shrubs, fruit trees, &c, are covered with moss, in 
consequence of the soil being too dry, it will be useful to 
spread large quantities of river or pond-mud about the roots, 
and to open the ground for the admission of the manure : 
such expedient will not only cool the land, and greatly sup- 
press the future growth of moss, but at the same time prevent 
the fruit from falling off too early, ... a circumstance that 
frequently happens in orchards in very dry soils. Mr. F., 
advises moss to be carefully removed in the months of Febru- 
ary or March ; after which the scraped trees must be washed 
with a mixture of fresh cow-dung, urine, and soapsuds. If 
this operation be repeated in Autumn, when the trees are des- 
titute of leaves, it will not only prevent the production of 
moss, but it will destroy the eggs of numerous insects, that 
would otherwise be hatched ; while it contributes essentially 
to promote vegetation. But, though moss be in general de- 
structive to the vegetation of shrubs and trees, yet, if grow- 
ing only on the north side of their trunks, it may be of con- 
siderable advantage in cold climates as a shelter to screen 
them from the severity of the north winds. Or, in very hot 
climates, if allowed to grow on the south side of trees and 
shrubs, it would probably be a protection against the fiery 
rays of the sun.* In the usually fine climate of Virginia, we 

*The growth of moss and diseases of the bark, may be caused, or 
promoted in transplanting, by setting large scions to a different point of 
the compass from that to which it was grown whilst in the nursery ; 
which practice renders necessary a constitutional change in the texture 
of the young plant, not only of the bark and wood, but of the roots, to 
accommodate itself to its new position. 



ORCHARDS. 113 

have no use for this pestiferous excresence, and consider it a 
deadly enemy to the health and free growth of fruit trees 
It is only the old, neglected, or the starved, young orchards 
in the South, that are infested with moss, and, the only way 
for its eradication is to lop, scrape, soap, cultivate, mulch, and 
manure ; and, if judiciously performed and applied, success- 
ful renovation will be accomplished. Indeed, if the trunks 
of old trees are tolerably sound, remunerative crops will cer- 
tainly be secured, and the trees in a manner be rejuvenated, 
if treated as above recommended. 

Free growing trees are seldom affected with moss, and, pre- 
vention is better than remedy. By keeping your trees in a 
fine, thrifty condition, moss will not accumulate, and many 
other ills of tree life will be warded off. 

VARIOUS MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES. 

Almost all kinds of manures are useful for fruit trees. 
Give the ground under them a heavy dressing of cow-stable 
or barn-yard manure, muck, or ditch mud, and ashes, which 
contain much lime, in any convenient proportion. If the land is 
light or sandy, the muck should largely preponderate. Rich 
soil, or mould, opjjosite in character to that in which the trees 
are grown, may be spread and mixed with the soil under them 
with great advantage. Air-slacked lime is excellent for top 
dressing, so is ashes, both especially so when well rotted litter 
is added. 

APPARENT DECLINE IN THE GROWTH AND PRO- 
DUCTIVENESS OF THE APPLE AND OTHER FRUIT 
TREES. 

The declension of fruits is a subject which has elicited some 
controversy. That varieties of cultivated fruits may, and do 
decline, is, perhaps, true. But the reason of this deteriora- 
tion may be accounted for in the altered circumstances under 
which they are now grown. When the country was new, and 
the unexhausted, virgin soil teemed with the rich, mellow mould, 
containing a profuse amount of vegetable food, just suited to 
9 



114 ORCHARDS. 

the nature of the trees, our first orchards grew with a thrifti- 
nes? and vigor that is now unattainable in most parts of the 
country ; unless, where the soil is properly enriched, and the 
lost ingredients restored in a suitable or scientific manner. 
The original vegetable mould that has been worked out, must 
be replaced with manures, swamp mud, ashes, lime, mulching, 
littering with leaves, &c. When this is properly done, and 
our improved varieties planted, (many of which are superior 
to the old ones,) we shall have fruit to equal, if not surpass, 
that of the olden time. But this is not all that is required. 
We must cultivate, and we must fight insect enemies, from 
which the old orchards were entirely exempt. 

If we do these things, we will find that the good days of 
fruit growing have not departed, and our trees will bend with 
fair and profuse crops of luscious, excellent fruits. But 
trees will not take care of themselves; and, the sooner we 
discover this fact, the better, both for us and them. Every 
tree exposed to stock,* except hogs and sheep, should be pro- 
tected in some manner. Do all this, (and it is light work,) 
and our reward in teeming showers of delicious, mellow fruits 
will exceed all that we had ever imagined of their value and' 
perfection. 

TKE BEARING YEAR. 

Most authors on apple culture are very brief in their re- 
marks on the subject of the bearing year, or alternate year 
bearers. This is a matter of some consequence to the fruit 
raiser, who always wishes to have some fruit every year, if 
possible. 

Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, 111., in a lecture on Orchard 
Fruits, delivered before the Illinois Industrial University, 
Jan. 19th, 1868, has some sensible remarks bearing on this 
subject. He says, " It is wholly within our means to prevent 

* " The farmer will expend hundreds of dollars in fencing out in- 
truders from his corn and wheat ; but he thinks it a hardship to devote 
half an hour each morning to crush the circulios, or clipping incipient 
caterpillars' nests from the shoots. The great point \s to bring the mind 
to the adoption of the truth, that vigilance and attention are necessary 
to secure and preserve fruit as well as other crops " — Rural Annual. 



ORCHARDS. 115 

over-bearing or barrenness in trees. And he who is ambi- 
tious to grow fruit of first quality, or to the most profit, 
should thoroughly understand the peculiar habits of each 
variety, and the method by which both barren or alternate 
year bearers may be made to yield a full annual crop of fruit. 

To understand this, we must refer to the trees active in 
growth. Trees which expend all their forces in the produc- 
tion of wood growth, can produce little or no fruit. Indeed, 
it is not possible for any tree to perfect a fruit germ, and not 
again in some way disorganize it, unless the wood growth shall 
cease, in time for the leaves to elaborate food enough to grow 
both leaf and fruit the following year, or, until a part of the 
leaves shall attain to nearly or quite their full size. That 
this is so will be apparent, when we consider that the leaves, 
which first appear in the Spring, were formed in the buds the 
previous year, perfect in all their parts, and in the embryo 
state contained each individual cell found in them when fully 
grown. But we are asked, if there is no addition to the 
number of cells, how do the leaves grow? The answer is, 
that the only difference we can see between an embryo leaf 
and one full grown, is in the size of the leaf cells. As growth 
begins in the Spring, these small cells, which we found in the 
previous year, begin to expand ; each individual cell thus en- 
larges until the whole of the numerous cells of which the 
leaves are composed are of full size. 

To further illustrate this, let us suppose in a brick wall that 
each brick at the same time were gradually to expand several 
hundred times its present diameter, and you have just what 
takes place in the growth of an. embryo leaf. Here we find 
the tree in possession of a full grown leaf. This leaf did 
not form itself, but was formed by the tree in the preceding 
year. To produce and sustain this cellular enlargement, 
there had been stored the previous year a large share of nu- 
triment in the buds and in other parts of the tree. This nu- 
triment, or plant food, must not only be sufficient to feed the 
embryo leaves, but must also be sufficient to produce the 
small warty excrescenses, the rootlets and spongioles. Those 
leaves and spongioles first grown were made, with the excep- 



116 ORCHARDS. 

tion of moisture, wholly out of the materials that were stored 
by the tree during the growth of the previous year. When 
these vegetable stores are in sufficient supply to do this and 
nourish theTruit germs also, then we shall hear little about 
imperfect fertilization. On the other hand, had the food- 
been consumed the previous year by ripening an over-crop of 
fruit, or by making a very succulent growth, then the tree 
would not store a sufficient amount of plant food to perform 
its three-fold office in the production of leave-*, roots with 
their spongioles, and fruit. In this condition a part of the 
leaf, and the larger part, or all of the fruit-buds, yield up 
their nourishment, which goes to the production of root and 
leaf growth. The tree, therefore, is barren of fruit for the 
summer; its whole growth being required to recuperate ;he 
growth of the tree. Such trees often bloom freely and cast 
their bloom. When this occurs, uninformed persons often at- 
tribute this to want of fertilization, or suppose that the rains 
have washed away the pollen, and the like. 

Having thus briefly referred to some of the causes of our 
fruit production and wood growth, we will now return and 
state how we treat trees bearing alternate- crops. Alternate 
bearing trees are such for the reason we have endeavored to 
explain, viz: exhaustion. What we have to do, then, is to 
economize and equalize the forces of the tree. If it be a 
Hart or Bigarreau cherry on which we are to operate, our 
first duty will be an inspection of the buds, that we may 
know what proportion of them are perfect. But before we 
proceed, we will have to state that the fruit-buds on most 
cherries are produced on little spurs, as they are called ; these 
are two, three and four years in forming. Each of these will 
likely have five, ten or more fruit-buds, and each bud will 
contain several fruit germs. When all these germs are per- 
fect, we have known as many as sixty fruits produced from a 
single spur, when not more than a dozen or fifteen could be 
properly grown. 

Understanding, as we now do, the position of the buds on 
the cherry tree, we next determine their condition by an in- 
spection of them, as detailed in our remarks on buds. Pro- 



ORCHARDS. 117 

bably we shall agree, for a tree of which the diameter of the 
trunk is four inches, one-half bushel of fruit may be reason- 
ably looked for, and for each additional inch in diameter four 
quarts may be added. Now, let us farther agree on the num- 
ber of cherries required to fill a half bushel. As our way 
will double and perhaps triple the size of the leaves, the fruit 
will be correspondingly large. Hence we reduce the usual 
number, five thousand, to eighteen hundred to fill the mea- 
sure; next, we estimate our buds, so many to each spur— five 
will be about right. Now, each of these buds ought to jield 
three cherries, fifteen to each spur; we shall need, then, only 
one hundred and twenty spurs, but we will allow a few, and 
say one hundred and thirty, to provide the required amount. 
This determined, some time before the buds open in the 
spring we prune away all the spurs except the requisite num- 
ber, leaving those that are to remain evenly distributed 
throughout the tree. In addition to the spurs already formed, 
there will be a great many of small one-year old spurs devel- 
oping for fruit for the next and succeeding years. Each 
year thin these out, always leaving as many again as you 
ultimately expect to reserve for fruit-bearing, as some of 
them, under the treatment we have described, are pretty sure 
to run off into wood growth. Alternate bearing trees man- 
aged in this way cannot overbear one year, and hence will 
not require a whole years rest in which to restore their ex- 
hausted energies, as would be the case had the trees received 
ordinary treatment." 

This management of cherries by Dr. Hull may, and doubt- 
less will, succeed admirably, but the process is rather scien- 
tific and tedious for most farmers, but may suit amateurs and 
those who have more leisure. As far as this theory is adapted 
to apple-culture, there is not so much trouble about it. Ac- 
cording to Downing and others, when about half the fruit is 
thinned out in a young state, say of the size of common 
grapes, leaving only a moderate crop, the apple, like other 
fruit trees, will bear every year, unless the fruit is destroyed 
by frost or cold winters. The bearing year of an apple tree, 
or a whole orchard, may be changed by picking off the fruit 



118 ORCHARDS. 

when the trees first show good crops, allowing it to remain 
only on the alternate seasons which we wish to make the 
bearing year. 

The best and most profitable mode, however, to secure an- 
nual crops from trees that are disposed to bear biennially, is 
to effect this desirable purpose by proper tillage and by proper 
manures combined, thus securing a high state of vigor and 
productiveness. The manures most likely to supply the trees 
with proper food and put the soil in high condition, are de- 
scribed in the course of this work — lime being a prominent 
part, if not already in the soil — but caution should be given, 
as an over-dose would be injurious. It would be best to mix 
it in the composition heap. (Ashes should also be used.) 

There are a few varieties of the apple that will bear annu- 
ally with ordinary culture and management, and it is of con- 
siderable importance to know which are these varieties. The 
author has taken some pains to give a correct list of them, 
which he will append at the close of this article. , 

It is desirable to have as many trees bearing every year as 
possible ; and, by selecting those which bear annually, this 
great advantage is secured, even if some of this character do 
not bear first rate fruit. The biennial class, which nat- 
urally gives a good crop once in two years, with no cultiva- 
tion, or with ordinary cultivation, is only of half the value — 
the qualities of both being equal. 

It will doubtless be to the advantage of all apple growers in 
setting new orchards, or adding to old ones, to have in view 
the benefit of a proper selection as it regards annual and 
biennial varieties, and those which come into early bearing ; 
which, we think, has been overlooked by our most practical 
horticulturists. We propose appending, according to the 
best information we can get, and from our own experience, 
a list of such varieties, which will enable those who plant 
trees to secure advantages in this way. 

But to return to the subject of the "bearing year.'" The 
cause generally assigned and believed, in regard to alternate 
bearing, is, " The exhaustion of most of the organizable matter 



ORCHARDS. 119 

laid up to the tree, which requires another season to recover and 
collect a sufficient supply again to form fruit buds," (which 
also happens in the case of most nut bearing trees.) This, 
Mi*. Cole says, is not according to analogy, as many other 
species of trees and shrubs bear abundantly every year. The 
same author, on page 87, American Fruit JBgoJc, says, " we 
first offered to the public the important fact that most of our 
varieties of apples in New England, natural and grafted, 
produce large crops in even years; 1846, 1818 and 1850, if 
the season be favorable, and light crops in odd years, 1845, 
1847 and 1849. Like all new things this view has been 
opposed and ridiculed, but never met fairly with facts. We 
observed it for 30 years, and the same orchards in our boy- 
hood, still continue the same. These important facts cannot 
be laughed down, nor upset by false reasoning. On the con- 
trary, correct observers are confirming what we have said." 
Mr. Cole does not give his opinion as to the cause of this 
freak in nature, but is satisfied in believing it is as he has 
stated. In justice to him, however, he also says : " Yet some 
trees and some orchards, and in some neighborhoods, most of 
trees bear in odd years." This he seems to consider only as 
exceptions to the general rule. According to our experi- 
ence we know of no such habit attending our orchards, and do 
not think they stop to play the game of odd and even, but 
bear their crops according to seasons and circumstances. A 
late vernal frost sometimes has something to do with the 
bearing year ; and full orchards are occasionally bereft of 
their fruit buds by a severe Winter in the bearing year, and 
forced to rest and renovate their fruiting powers until the 
next season, which in that case will be the bearing year, 
whether it be odd or even. Other reasons might be assigned 
for the alternation of the bearing year. We like trees that 
will bear every year, and if we can control them by aid and 
art, or in any way induce them to do so, so much the better- 
But at the same time we should esteem and cherish so much 
the more highly those few varieties that do so without coaxing. 
As to the " even year" forbearing, our Southern and West- 
ern latitudes do not favor any partiality for odd or even 



120 ORCHARDS. 

numbers, but leave all such capricious pranks to the soil of 
New England. 

It is not desirable that young trees should bear large crops, 
and to prevent it, if the time can be spared, a portion of the 
young fruit had better be thinned out, in order to insure 
thrifty and vigorous growth, and smaller crops of fine fruit, 
which is of more importance, when trees commence bearing, 
than large crops. Trees that are grown up, and those which 
have attained their full size and maturity, are in a condition 
by nature to bear full crops, and as a general thing they will 
do so, some annually and others biennially ; but, of course, 
like animals, they must be well fed and attended to ; other- 
wise Ave shall, as a general thing, have to be contented with 
biennial crops. 

Mr. A. Gr. Comings, of Mason county, New Hampshire, 
says of the Baldwin apple, which is usually an alternate 
bearer: "I have found by experiment that with proper cul- 
ture it will bear more frequently. I have a tree in a rich 
loam and under high culture, which was well supplied with 
fruit for five years in succession. The apples grew extremely 
large and were of very fine flavor. 

One of Mr. A. J. Downing's correspondents says, in a 
note: " For several years past I have been experimenting 
on the apple, having an orchard of two thousand Newtown 
Pippin trees. I found it very unprofitable to wait for what is 
called the ' bearing year.' I have noticed from the excessive 
productiveness of this tree, it requires the intermediate year 
to recover itself; to extract from the earth and atmosphere 
the materials to enable it to produce again. This it is not 
able to do unassisted by art, while it is loaded with fruit, and 
the intervening year is lost ; if, however, the tree is supplied 
with proper food, it will bear every year ; at least, such has 
been the result of my experiments." 

LIST OF ANNUAL BEARING TREES. 

The following varieties of apple trees in a soil kept in good 
condition will bear every year, viz : 

White Spanish Reinett (Mississippi), highly recommended. 



ORCHARDS. 



121 



Rawie's Genet, or as some call it Geneting (Winter.) 

Higby Sweet (Ohio apple), new. 

Wine Sap — nearly every year (finest of market apples). 

Limbertwig (in some situations). 

Grimes' Golden — resembles the Newark Pippin — a new 
variety originated in Brook county, West Virginia — quality, 
best. 

Sops of Wine. 

Benoni. 

Holland Pippin. 

Hubardston's Nonesuch. 

Dornine. 

Stanard. 

Minker. 

Monte Bello (New), Ch. Downing — an Illinois apple of great 
promise. 

Ramsdell's Sweeting (enormous bearer), October to Feb- 
ruary. 

Milam — Winter variety, much admired in the Piedmont 
district. 

Vandevere — Large, roundish, yellow-ground, marbled with 
red ; flesh yellow, crisp, tender ; suited to rich sandy soils. 

LIST OF LATE BLOOMING VARIETIES. 

In frosty situations the following varieties, in consequence 
of their habit of late blooming, preserve their blossoms from 
the vernal frosts during late Spring. The importance of such 
a selection is not appreciated as it should be, and we wish to 
call the attention of those who are compelled to plant in such 
situations to the advantage of raising as many late blooming 
trees as possible. 

Ramie's Genet — (from our ow T n observation). 

Stveet Genet — a seeding of Rawle's Genet — originated with 
Mr. Reuben Ragan, of Putnam county, Indiana — fruit large, 
handsome, fair, expands its blossoms at least a week later than 
its parent, and always escapes Spring frosts. 

Ingram's Seedling (new). 

Lawver Apple, (new.) 



122 ORCHARDS. 

Borsdorff (German apple). 
Northern Spy, and 
All Russet apples. 

REMEDIES FOR UNFRUITFULNESS. 

Trees, like animal ;, are sometimes subject to barrenness.. 
There is no subject within the wide realm of horticulture more 
difficult to understand or explain satisfactorily than the true 
cause of vigorous trees failing to bear fruit, especially when 
they have been well tilled, manured, and pruned The cause 
generally assigned is an over-vigorous constitution, causing 
over-luxuriant growth of shoots and leaves, and excessive 
wood growth. Other causes have been assigned; as the influ- 
ence of certain soils — the lack of certain constituent elements 
in the soil, which are necessary to fruitfulness; such as potash, 
soda, £?c, in limestone soils, and the want of lime, iron, clay 
or much composts in free stone, sandy, or slaty soils. Over- 
luxuriance of growth, however, is considered by the best au- 
thorities as the most usual cause of unfruitfulness in fruit 
trees. Fortunately for the orchardist, such condition of his 
trees very seldom occur, and the remedies in such cases, as' 
generally prescribed, are as follows : 

" To induce fruitfulness, when a young tree is too luxuriant, 
employing all its energies in making vigorous shoots, but 
forming few or no blossoms and producing no fruit, we have 
it in our power, by different modes of pruning, to lessen this 
over-luxuriance, and force it to expend its energies in fruit 
bearing. The most direct and successful mode of doing this 
is by pruning the roots, a proceeding brought into practice by 
English gardeners." 

Root Pruning is effected by cutting off a portion of the 
nourishment supplied by the roots of a tree. The leaves, 
losing part of their usual nourishment, have not the ability to 
continue their rapid growth, or maintain the excessive vigor 
of the balance of the tree, causing the branches to assume 
slow growth and the organizable matter accumulates, causing 
fruit buds to be formed. The inclination to luxuriant wood 
and leaf growth being cut off, the remaining sap and food are 



ORCHARDS. 123 

employed in producing and maturing fruit buds for the next 
year. 

The proper time for root pruning is in the Fall or Winter. 
It is effected by removing the soil from the roots and cutting 
them off a few feet from the tree ; the distance must be regu- 
lated according to the size of the tree — the larger roots are 
cut off, and the ends should be smoothly paired or cut. Eng- 
lish nurserymen practice root priming in this way: They dig 
a trench or ditch during the Fall, November is preferred, 
about eighteen inches deep around their trees with a sharp 
spade, cutting off all the roots as smoothly as possible. The 
distance from the tree varies according to the size and luxu- 
riance of its growth. By adopting this practice, they cause 
their trees to bear early and full crops, and force apples and 
pears and other fruits grafted on their own roots to bear 
abundantly as dwarfs; and, treated in this way, they can be 
grown from six to eight feet apart and thinned in a conical 
form. 

The ends of the roots cut off in trenching round the tree 
are abundantly supplied with suitable manure, mixed with soil 
in the ditch to keep up their health and a proper degree 
of vigor. Trees dwarfed in this way, by annual root prun- 
ing, become very prolific. The plan is well suited to growing 
trees on a small surface, and to the gardens of amateurs. 

An excellent English author in writing on this subject men- 
tions the following advantages to be derived from systematic 
root pruning. 

"1. The facility of thinning (owing to the small size of 
the trees) and, in some varieties, of setting the blossoms of 
shy-bearing sorts, and of thinning and gathering the fruit. 

" 2. It will make the gardener independent of the natural 
soil of his garden, as a few barrowsfull of rich mould will 
support a tree for a lengthened period ; thus placing bad soils 
nearly on a level with those the most favorable. 

" 3. The capability of removing trees of fifteen or twenty 
years' growth, with as much facility as furniture. To tenants 
this will indeed be a boon, for perhaps one of the greatest an- 
noyances a tenant is subjected to, is that of being obliged to 



124 ORCHARDS. 

leave behind him trees that he has nurtured with the utmost 
care." 

In conclusion, this author recommends caution; "enough 
of vigor must be left in the tree to support its crop of fruit, 
and one, two, or three seasons' cessation from root pruning 
will often be found necessary. " 

Root pruning is only valuable, according to our judgment, 
when applied to such standard trees as at the usual size and 
age fail to blossom or bear fruit, or do so in a manner so light 
and unprofitable that some course is necessary to induce fair 
crops and full bearing. Such trees will generally require but 
a single pruning to bring them all right and cause them to 
assume a permanent fruitful condition. Pears and plums 
that are shy bearers when grown up, say from twelve to four- 
teen years old, may be forced in this way to bear when of 
proper size. An esteemed author observes, " Several nearly 
full grown peach, pear, and plum trees, on a very rich soil on 
the Hudson, which were over luxuriant but bore no fruit, 
were root pruned by our advice two years ago, and yielded 
most excellent and abundant crops last season." The same 
author says: "In case of apple orchards, where the perma- 
nent value depends on the size, longevity, and continued pro- 
ductiveness of the trees, it is better to wait patiently, and not 
to resort to pruning .to bring them into bearing ; as it cannot 
be denied that all excessive pruning shortens somewhat the 
life of the tree." Mr. Coxe, indeed, recommended that the 
first fruit should never be allowed to ripen on a young apple 
orchard, as it lessens very materially the vigor of the trees. 

Pruning the Tops or Shortening -in the extremities of the 
branches of peach, nectarines and apricots, has a strong ten- 
dency to increase the fruitfulness of those trees. By reduc- 
ing the new wood, the sap is more abundantly distributed in 
the balance of the branches, causing many bearing shoots to 
be produced on each branch instead of one. 

Spurring-in, which is the annual shortening of the lateral 
shoots of trained fruit trees, as practiced in England, is per- 
formed in order to make them grow short fruit branches or 
spurs, and is a part of the same theory, and is well adapted 
to pears, apples, peaches, and other fruits. 



ORCHARDS. 125 

Bending Down the Limbs is a mode easily practiced to 
produce fruitfulness. By doing this, the circulation of the 
sap is delayed or retarded — the growth becomes less vigorous — 
the organizable juices and matter increase, and fruit buds 
are directly formed. The proper time for bending the limbs 
is the early part of the summer — say during the month of 
June, when the sap is up and the limbs have become pliant. 
They are tied or fastened down, below a horizontal line, and 
forced to remain in this position until the growth of the wood 
stiffens and causes them to retain permanently the position 
required for this purpose. It is usual to pin them to the earth 
by means of forked stakes, the forks inverted and driven in 
the ground, and when there is danger of chafing or rubbing, 
the limbs should be protected by soft rags or other wrapping 
at the places pinned down. Other modes to fasten them to 
the ground might be adopted, but this is the most .simple, and 
probably the best. When a tree is trained to this position, 
which is very simple and easily done, it is certain to cause 
fruitful branches and fine fruit on the limbs so treated. 

Disbarking and Hinging are modes practiced by some gar- 
deners, and recommended by some writers to induce fruitful- 
ness ; but most authors in this country who have written on 
this subject disapprove of both, and in place of this process 
keep the bark in a fine green and healthy state, by applica- 
tions of soft soap or strong soap suds, &c, as a wash ; or, by 
rubbing hard soap on the stems of the trees and on the lower 
parts of the large limbs. 

Bandages or Ligatures very tightly wrapped around the 
limbs will have the same effect, temporarily, as disbarking and 
ringing with less injury to the tree and branches. 

OTHER MODES OF INDUCING FRUITFULNESS. 

The productiveness of fruit trees of every description 
depends very much on the soils in which they are grown. 
Poor soils stave the trees and reduce the crops, as is well known. 
Lime stone soils seldom if ever fail to produce fine fruit, 
and. large growth of trees. The largest apple tree perhaps 



126 ORCHARDS. 

in Virginia was grown in limestone soil, with rich loamy sub- 
soil mixed with small gravel. Other strong loamy soils are 
also well adapted to the fruitfulness as well as vigorous 
growth of orchard trees. The particular ingredients of soil 
favorable to full bearing are always present in soils such as 
these. Soils also have a powerful influence in the growth 
and modification of fruits. Their size, texture, excellence, 
and fine keeping qualities are produced and established by 
the soils in which they are grown. Perhaps, as to flavor, 
the dark red or chocolate colored soils of the Piedmont re- 
gion of Virginia, extending into North Carolina, are the very 
best for the extreme lusciousness and high aromatic flavor, 
always present in the well cultivated fruits of this region. 
It is believed that the fruits of this section are also less affect- 
ed by insect enemies and by vernal frosts. 

In regard to the keeping qualities of the apple, there can 
be no doubt but that gray, clayey soils, are decidedly the 
best, inducing plumpness and firmness in the fruit, and a dis- 
position to hang well and long on the trees. 

The Tide-water sections of Maryland, Virginia and North 
Carolina, where the soil is loamy and not too much sand, or 
too wet, are well adapted to both the apple and the peach, and 
the fine qualities of both are secured in an eminent degree, 
by good cultivation and by careful selection of varieties to suit 
this lower section of the country. (A list of such varieties 
will be appended in this work.) There are many very fine 
varieties of apples that will not flourish here that are quite at 
home in the high, gray, and slaty lands, and mountainous 
sections where the red soil predominates. (Lists suitable for 
all these locations will appear in their place in this work.) 
" Locations bordering on salt water are warmer in Winter and 
cooler in Summer, as the atmosphere is modified by the more 
equable temperature of the water," which seldom freezes to 
any extent. This favorable condition to fruit culture, of the 
maritime sections of the States above named, may be attribu- 
table to the warmth that pervades the surface of the gulf 
stream. The injury to fruit buds and blossoms by extreme 
cold and frost is here almost entirely obviated. These 



ORCHARDS. 127 

advantages to the fruit grower are already appreciated here, 
and should be improved to their utmost extent ; as the 
fruits of this section can be put in market several iveeks in 
advance of the fruits of the middle and mountainous sections. 

The vicinity of large fresh water lakes is also favorable to 
fruit trees and fruitfulness. The spray that rises from large 
bodies of water, extracts and expels the frost before the sun 
rises, and prevents injury to the buds or expanded bloom. 
This good effect is sometimes lost on the border of lakes in 
consequence of their being sheeted over with ice. 

Sheltered locations, such as narrow, deep valleys, are un- 
favorable to fruitfulness. They are liable to extremes of tem- 
perature, thawing and freezing alternately by day and by 
night, which changes destroy the tender trees, buds, and 
blossoms. There is said to be a difference of five or six de- 
grees between such low bottoms and valleys, during the 
Spring, and the tops or sides of adjacent ridges, where the 
elevation is not more than 80 or 100 feet. 

A German writer, Schultz, in his work entitled " Reju- 
venescence of Plants," etc., says, that common salt and chlo- 
ride of lime contribute greatly to the flowering of plants, to 
which, however, they can only be applied with safety in 
small quantities. "Salts of lime," he observes, "appear to 
produce so nearly the same effect as that of potash and soda, 
that it is only necessary to place lime within their reach, if 
there is no deficiency of manure in the shape of general food. 
Lime will in the main promote, in an astonishing degree, the 
fruiting and flowering of most plants, because calcareous salts 
promote evaporation and the concentration of the sap." 

These views of Dr. Schultz, are, in the author's opinion, 
of great value. Coarse salt at the rate of one and a half or 
two bushels to the acre, as a top dressing on most soils, pro- 
mote fruitfulness to an eminent degree — and, at the same 
time, aid in destroying worms and other insects injurious to 
fruit and fruit trees. Lime has a most powerful effect on the 
fruiting of -the apple and pear. Some years ago, we made 
an experiment with lime, which being carried a little too far, 
proved fatal to a pear tree. In removing the lime and rubbish 



128 - ORCHARDS. 

from the ceiling of an old house, about one bushel, with other 
litter, was directed to be placed around a pear tree of -small 
size, but of considerable age, which had never blossomed or 
borne fruit, and had been entirely neglected for many years. 
This was done early in the Winter. The spot on which it 
stood was a poor, dry, gray, slaty soil, and was cultivated the 
following Spring. This tree, at the proper time, bloomed 
profusely, and a great quantity of fruit set and matured; the 
quality being first rate. The next or second Spring, the tree 
failed to bloom, and gradually withered and died, and in the 
Fall afforded a small lot of fire wood, showing doubtless, the 
effects of an over dose of lime, and forced over-bearing. 

These facts, connected with lime and salt, are very well 
worth the careful attention of the orchardist, and extended 
experiments on their action and efficiency in promoting fruit- 
fulness in fruit trees should be a subject of scientific research. 

Fruitfulness in cold clayey soil may be promoted and the lat- 
ter made equal to the best, for the apple and peach, and for 
most other fruits. Where there is but little vegetable mould, 
decayed litter is mixed with the soil, and a moderate quantity 
of lime spread broadcast about the roots ; the quantity should 
vary according to circumstances, but, as a general rule, about 
as much as is deemed sufficient to be spread on corn or wheat 
fallowed crops, to be applied during the Fall or early Winter, 
would be about right. 

It should be well mixed with the litter and soil. This kind 
of soil, in addition to the lime and decayed litter, may be 
rendered still better adapted to the growth and fruitfulness of 
trees, if the farmer should have the time to give the soil a 
dressing of river or any other sand, most convenient for that 
purpose.. 

The like good effect is secured by mixing with sandy soil, 
clay from ditches — even though it should not be rich in vegeta- 
ble matter — and then apply mulching of any description to 
keep the soil cool and moist. 

Some English authors recommend the following treatment 
for trees unfruitful from luxuriance of growth : 

When trees are so luxuriant, as not to bear those prolific 



OKCHARDS. . 129 

spurs from which the fruit proceeds the too abundant flow of 
their juices, must be checked by the following method : The 
tops of most of the shoots are to be pruned oif in August, the 
bark perpendicularly slitted in different places, and the trunk 
cut about one-third through with a saw, but so as not to injure 
the heart. For the first year, or two, after this experiment, 
the tree will not bear more fruit than usual, but, afterwards, its 
production will be adequate to every expectation. 

From this operation, (especially in the lower Tide-water 
district) a still farther benefit may be derived. When there 
is a superabundance of moisture, the trees are liable to be 
covered with moss, which affords shelter for caterpillars 
and other insects ; but this process in a great measure cures 
it, especially if the moss is carefully scrubbed off, or rubbed 
with a coarse, wet cloth, or nibbed when the trees are wet 
after a rain. 

The pruning of the tops diverts the channel of* circulation, 
and accelerates the growth of the fruit-bearing shoots ; while 
the cutting of the trunk, across, moderates the rise of nour- 
ishment, or sap. Thus the sawed part will overgrow in so 
complete a manner, that it cannot be discerned except from 
the freshness of its bark. This expedient we have tried on a 
Juneating tree, some twenty or twenty-five years old, well 
grown and vigorous, which never bore more than a dozen or 
two of apples in any year. It grows in a somewhat slaty soil, 
and has been tolerably well attended to the most of the time. 
The operations were performed in 1867, and in 1869, no 
results. We shall expect an increase of fruit this season, 1870.* 

The following remarks on "Root Pruning to induce Fruit- 
fulness" we copy from that excellent work, " The Rural 
Annual and Horticultural Directory:" Although a similar 
mode has just been described, yet this is so simple and so 
easily performed, we deem it best for ordinary practice. 

" When a tree has reached a fruit-bearing size, and shows 
no symptoms of a fruit bearing disposition, but instead, 
throws out vigorous branches, root pruning is a very efficacious 

*As expected, this tree bore a fair crop of excellent fruit this season ; 

10 



130 ORCHARDS. 

mode of checking growth. In highly cultivated gardens, 
where trees are planted, and the roots have access to the rich 
soil, an immense crop of branches will be produced, and but 
little, if any, fruit. Root pruning will check such growths 
most effectually and render the trees fruitful. The operation 
is performed by digging out a circular trench at a distance of 
three to six feet from the stem, according to the size of the 
tree, and cutting all the roots that are encountered or can be 
reached. The soil is again thrown back, and the process is 
completed. If done in August, (perhaps the latter part of 
July would suit the latitude of Virginia and North Carolina 
best) the supply of sap will immediately be lessened, the 
wood-maturing principle accelerated, and fruit buds formed. 
The operation has been performed in Spring Avith but little 
benefit, but if done in the Fall, cannot fail in producing 
the desired results. 

Although much more might be said, and many good authors 
quoted, yet Ave deem this subject sufficiently elucidated for all 
practical purposes, and shall proceed to the treatment of 
over-bearing trees, and a few remarks on "Tap Roots." 

TAP ROOTS. 

L. S. B., Chicago, 111., in a recent number of the Grarden- 
ers' Monthly, remarking on roots, says: "I was interested 
in what you say about tap roots. You seem to place little 
value on them. I have been led to believe them very essen- 
tial, and ahvays give my gardener, as my advice, to save the 
tap roots, when we are transplanting anything upon our laAvn. 
Was your remark intended to have the weight it seems to 
bear, or a slip of the pen ? I have read so often of the great 
value of tap roots that I want to be sure I understand you. 
It Avould seem as if nature would hardly make them, if they 
were of no use." 

(No one disputes this last point — "nature makes everything 
for some use." Beards are of some use; perhaps to exercise 
our industry to keep them shaven away. As to tap roots, 
our correspondent understood us correctly to say that they 
are not of the slightest sendee towards the nutrition of the 



ORCHARDS. 131 

tree. The shortening of a tap root is of no more injury to a 
tree than is the shortening of the finger-nails to a man. This 
matter was settled by Sanebier and others over a hundred 
years ago. Their experiments we have repeated, and no in- 
telligent man teaches any other doctrine.) — Gardeners' 
Monthly. (We are surprised to learn that any one ever sup- 
posed the tap root to be a feeder. Such parties must be very 
"dull of comprehension.") — Editors Southern Farmer. 

Notwithstanding what has just been said by the authorities 
above quoted, there may be some reason to suspect a use for 
perpendicular or tap roots — if, for no other purpose, to steady 
the tree and to enable it, in conjunction with the horizontal 
roots, to sustain itself in hurricanes and high winds. The 
G-ardeners Monthly forgets that many of the esculent roots 
of his garden have nothing but tap roots with a few straggling 
spongioles. Tap roots must be of use in their case, and the 
nutriment they receive is almost entirely through the tap 
roots. But if the tap roots do not travel abroad in search of 
food as do other roots, yet they may secure and elaborate sub- 
stances contained in the subsoil, which is not the office of the 
horizontal roots to supply, and which they cannot reach, such 
as clay, iron, &c, so very necessary for the health and vigor 
of many varieties of our fruit trees. 

One reason that nurserymen and others do not save the tap 
root, is because they cannot well do so in removing the young 
tree. Unless pains is taken, it is always chopped or torn off; 
and if it remains to the tree, it is much more difficult to set it 
steadily and firmly in its new position, and to place the soil 
closely about this and the crown and horizontal roots above. 
There is but little doubt that a tree, well planted, with a tap 
root entire, will stand a better chance to live and thrive and 
grow off freely than one without it — the deprivation of this 
root may even effect the longevity of the tree. The only 
question is, will it pay for the extra labor and care required 
to. preserve it. 

OVEK-BEABJNG. 

The only practical and safe way to correct over-bearing, in 
both the apple and pear, is by thinning the fruit; not the 



132 . ORCHARDS. 

leaves and branches. When we attempt to correct this dispo- 
sition by thinning out the branches, we are liable to injure 
the tree and fill the head with water-sprouts. We must bring 
into actual use this much praised but seldom practiced expe- 
dient — " thinning-out." It is applicable to the pear and peach 
also — and, the idea is not so much to lessen the leverage 
and weight as to prevent excessive production — for it is held 
as an established fact that excessive reproduction destroys or 
impairs vitality, not only as regards the vegetable but also 
the animal economy. Many of our seedling apple trees 
have never been properly pruned, or pruned at all, during all 
their growth, and have arrived at maturity with a great crowd 
of branches, a compact, bushy head, and will produce but little 
and very small inferior fruit. Such trees should not be suf- 
fered to remain in any orchard, unless quite sound and healthy, 
when new tops of choice varieties could be given them by 
grafting. 

It is well known to all experienced fruit growers that those 
varieties that have open heads — as the Domine, Stanard, Hol- 
land Pippin, Wine Sap, Minker, and many others produce fair 
annual crops, and, all things considered, are much the most 
reliable and profitable; whilst those of more compact bushy 
heads, as the Lowel, Northern Spy, Winter Russet, Yellow 
Bellefleur, and all others of this class are inclined to produce 
biennial crops, with a strong tendency to overbear. The 
plum and cherry are seldom pruned. At Alton, 111., "Dr. 
Hull trims out the heads of the peach, and removes the fruit 
from all twigs that fall beloiv a horizontal line. His fruit is 
the largest sent to market and commands the highest price. 
Others cut back so as to thicken the head of the tree, and to 
protect the fruit from the direct rays of the sun ; while all 
parties thin out the fruit. Thus far there has been about the 
same success with both the above plans; one pioducing the 
most fruit, and the other commanding the highest price." 

When the fruit is about the size of a grape or small hickory 
nut, "bring out the ladders" and relieve those trees that are 
overburdened. Some may require half the crop to be picked 
off — others less. The orchardist will exercise his own judg- 



ORCHARDS. 133 

ment as to the proper quantity to be taken away. Persons 
inexperienced in this business might suppose it an endless job 
to go over the orchard for this purpose ; but such should re- 
collect that in many cases not more than one-fourth or one- 
eighth of the trees will require such treatment; and, that the 
work can be done in at least half the time required to go over 
as many trees, picking the matured fruit for market or home 
use. Thin all those fruits that are too numerous. By the 
inosculation of the vessels of vegetables, when any parts of a 
tree are destroyed, those in their vicinity become more vigor- 
ous. On this account, when part of the fruit is taken away 
as early as may be, the remaining part acquires more nutri- 
ment. Add to this, that when the fruit is crowded, some of 
it becomes precluded from the sun and air, and in consequence 
does not perfectly ripen, and in some situations is likely to 
become mouldy; for mould is a vegetable production, which, 
like other fungi, does not require either much light or air, 
as appears from the growth of some fungi in dark cellars, 
and of common mushrooms beneath decayed beds of straw. 

The following extract from a good English author, although 
a digression and not applicable in every respect to apple cul- 
ture, is, nevertheless, valuable and worthy of insertion here. 

"Give additional moisture, manure and warmth during the 
early part of the growth of fruit. By additional moisture the 
fruit becomes larger; in hot houses, this may be effected two 
ways, one by watering the earth on which the vegetables grow, 
and another by producing steam by watering the warm flues 
or floors ; which will afterwards, in the cooler hours, be again 
condensed, and settle in the form of dew on the fruit and 
leaves. 

"By supplying vegetables as well as animals with an abund- 
ancy of fluid, they are liable to increase in bulk, both because 
of the external cuticle, which confines the growth of both of 
them, becomes relaxed, as is seen in the hands of those women 
who for many hours have been engaged in washing; and also 
because the cutaneous absorbent vessels will thus imbibe more 
fluid from the external surface ; and the cellular absorbents 



134 ORCHARDS. 

will therefore imbibe less from the internal cells, and conse- 
quently more mucus or fat will remain in them. 

"Thus in Lancashire, where premiums are given for large 
gooseberries, I am told that some of those who are solicitous 
for the prizes not only thin the fruit of a gooseberry tree, so 
as to leave but two or three gooseberries on a bunch, then by 
supporting a tea saucer under each of these gooseberries, 
bathe it for some weeks in so much water as to cover about 
one-fourth of it, which they call sucking the gooseberry. 

" There are two circumstances to be attended to in giving 
water to plants or trees ; which are, not to water them during 
the hot part of the day in Summer, nor in the evenings of 
Spring, when a frost may be expected ; in both these circum- 
stances we may be said to copy nature, as the rain is gener- 
ally preceded by a cloudy sky, and is never accompanied by 
frost; though that sometimes follows it, and is then very inju- 
rious to vegetation. 

" When plants have been long stimulated by a hot sunshine 
into violent action, if this stimulus of heat be too greatly and too 
suddenly diminished by the affusion of cold water, or by its 
sudden evaporation, their vessels cease to act, and death en-' 
sues ; exactly as has too frequently happened to those who 
have bathed in a cold stream, or spring of water, after having 
been heated by violent and continued exercise on a hot day. 
When severe frosts follow the watering of plants, they are 
rendered torpid, and die by the too great and sudden diminu- 
tion of the stimulus of heat; which is equally necessary to 
the activity of vegetable as to animal fibres; and in some in- 
stances the circulation of their fluids may be stopped by the 
congelation of them; and in others, their vessels may be burst 
by the expansion attending the conversion of water into ice; 
or, lastly, by the separation of their different fluids by con- 
gelation. 

"When an addition of manure can be procured, as where 
the black carbonic juice from a dung hill mixed with water, 
or soapsuds, which have been used in washing, can be em- 
ployed instead of water alone, it must undoubtedly add much 



ORCHARDS. 135 

to the nutriment, and consequently greatly enlarge the size 
and add to the quality and flavor of fruit by that means, also, 
as well as by the additional water." 

In an art : cle entitled "The Golden Age of Fruit Culture, 1 ' 
the Rural Annual remarks : "We may as well add in this 
connection, that much may be done by way of restoring the 
former smoothness of specimens, if the proper thinning out at 
the right time, is adopted. Yonder, for instance, is an apple 
orchard at mid-Summer — most of the trees have twice as 
many specimens growing upon them as they can develop at 
full size and maturity with full flavor. It will be found, also, 
that one-half or two-thirds of them are wormy or knotty. All 
that the owner has to do, therefore, is to thin out all that are 
bad or defective. He will do this many times more rapidly 
than gathering the fruit, because he has to take no pains with 
them. His crop will then be left in an excellent and fair 
condition, and be far more saleable than if disfigured by an 
intermixture of scrubbs. These remarks will also apply to 
pears and peaches, with the addition that they are more likely 
to be stung and rendered knotty by the curculio than the 
apple." 

The taking off all that are wormy or knotty might not be 
sufficient, as those trees that are much crowded would not be 
sufficiently relieved, and, the part remaining might be still too 
numerous to allow fine size and flavor; consequently, the good 
judgment of the owner, or orchardist, would, in such cases, 
require him to still farther reduce the crop, even to one-half. 

It is not to be denied, notwithstanding what has been said 
about over-bearing, and its remedy, "picking off" — that many 
orchards bear remunerative crops without any such assistance, 
and, are naturally relieved of their superabundance of fruit, 
by the most vigorous specimens crowding off and starving the 
weakly ones. This, in some degree, is always the case — but 
still enough may remain to exhaust the energies of the tree 
and cause the fruit to be unfit for marketable purposes. The 
trees may be broken and fatally injured, however, by the 
leverage and weight of fruit, and the fruit rendered very in- 
ferior in many cases, yet the great abundance of the crop — 



136 ORCHARDS. 

the use that may be made of it in this condition, in drying, 
and other domestic purposes, such as making cider, brandy, 
and for feeding stock, may be considered by some as a suffi- 
cient equivalent for the care bestowed upon the trees without 
including thinning out. 

But there is another consideration that should not be over- 
looked. Trees whose fruit are properly thinned and regulated, 
become, as a general thing, annual bearers when thus treated; 
whereas, if they are entirely neglected in this regard, their 
over-bearing is apt to cause biennial crops only — and the pro- 
ducts of every other year are almost entirely lost; and, in- 
deed, some trees, if suffered to mature a very heavy crop, will 
not bear again until the third year, and consequently two 
years are lost. 

GENERAL REMARKS ON THE CULTIVATION OF 
THE APPLE. 

We have thought proper to append the following practical 
article on "Apple Culture," from the pen of an experienced 
Albemarle county, Virginia, farmer, (Professor J. Dinwiddie, 
late of the University of Virginia,) as the sum and substance' 
of the entire art and science of apple culture. His views on 
this subject so nearly correspond with those of the author, and 
are so comprehensive and well written, that we gladly substi- 
tute them for the general remarks we had intended to have 
used in closing this part of our work : 

"Having been for many years actively engaged in the col- 
lection, preparation, and cultivation of fine kinds of fruits, 
such as are best adapted to the soil and climate of the eastern 
base of the Blue Ridge mountains in the States of Virginia 
and of North Carolina, we believe that we can pen some plain, 
practical information upon the cultivation of fruits which will 
be useful to those who may desire to engage in this most 
pleasant and profitable business. The apple, pear, peach, 
cherry, and grape are the great fruits naturally adapted to the 
soil and climate of this section of country, and are most pro- 
fitable to the cultivator, and so easy of cultivation that every 
farmer should have a choice and well-selected collection of 



ORCHARDS. 137 

them. The farm that has not growing thereon a large and 
well-selected orchard is not a place fit for man to live at; and 
we say most emphatically to every farmer who has not a good 
orchard, go to work at once and supply the greatest deficiency 
on your farm. Plant and cultivate fruits for market and for 
home consumption. The wife can have prepared for the table 
many a tart and savory dish in which fruit will constitute the 
main ingredient. The children will fairly dance over a basket 
of ripe, ruddy fruit. The horses, the cows, the pigs, and the 
fowls, are all fond of the product of the orchard, and it is good 
and wholesome for all. Do not say that you are too old now 
to plant an orchard. It would be a splendid legacy to be- 
queath to those who are dear to you. Do not say that you 
expect to sell out your farm, and therefore would not get the 
benefit thereof; but if you do really wish to sell out, then go 
to work at once and plant out a large orchard, and make 
yours a place fit to live at, and if you still desire to sell out 
(which we doubt if you do), you will not only find a purchaser, 
but realize a handsome profit on the investment. Do not say 
that you have not the money to spare to buy the plants to 
start the orchards, but sell a horse, or cow or two, or even a 
corner of your large domains, to make the investment. Do 
not say that it will be too long to wait before these young 
plants will fruit in the orchard. Your seedling trees, that 
have accidentally sprung up about your farm, will give you no 
idea how soon you may obtain fruits from fine cultivated va- 
rieties; and look around you and Bee if some neighbor did 
not plant a few trees just before the war, and if he has given 
them proper attention, hear him now talk about the golden 
fruit, and ask what he would take to have those fruit trees 
removed from his farm. In fine, make no excuses whatever, 
but determine that the orchard shall be set in the approach- 
ing season, and if you have made no choice collection of vari- 
eties of fruits yourselves, and are not skilled in the propaga- 
tion of these plants, then send your orders at once to some re- 
liable nurseryman. The apple is the great fruit of all fruits 
in the temperate zone. By a judicious selection of kinds to 
ripen in succession, it may be had in perfection the whole year 



138 ORCHARDS. 

round; and as our space is limited, we will make the apple a 
specialty in this article: In order to grow an orchard of fine 
thrifty apple trees, which will produce an abundance of fine 
fruit, after obtaining the necessary kinds to ripen in succes- 
sion — of which we will speak more fully hereafter — we must 
commence with the starting of the young plants, and inquire 
what kind of material has been used by the propagator, what 
mode has been practiced in the propagation, and whether or 
not this material has been collected in a favorable or an unfa- 
vorable fruit growing locality. The stock and the graft are 
the material, and the mode is to insert the graft into the stock 
either above or below the surface where the union is to take 
place. Now, if the material to start these plants has been 
collected and cultivated in an unfavorable locality for the 
apple, we cannot hope for high perfection, but feeble trees, 
imperfect fruit, and even death itself at no distant day, must 
inevitably be the result. If the grafts have been cut from 
water-sprouts, or the lower branches of the parent tree, that 
is also objectionable, even in favorable localities; because the 
water-sprouts are too long in fruiting, though fine growers. 
The lower branches make poor, crooked-growing trees, although 
the first to fruit. The mode of grafting, in common seedling 
stocks, above the surface is a bad one, because some kinds 
of apples are much more vigorous than other kinds are, and 
'when it happens to be the case (which occurs as often as other- 
wise) that a graft of rapid growth is inserted above the surface 
into a stock of small and uncertain growth, the N stock is not 
vigorous enough for the head, it is an ill-assorted union, and 
will never do well. But if we wish to grow fine trees that 
will produce the best fruits, we must choose for the parent 
tree a fine, thrifty, young-bearing tree, in a favorable locality, 
and cut from it the main leaders, only for the scions, and in- 
sert them into healthy seedling stocks about four inches below 
the surface, where the soil is deep and loamy, and new roots 
will spring out of the scion itself above the union of the stock. 
Graft in this way, and if there be great inequality in the 
growth of the stock and graft, the graft will maintain itself 
from its own roots. When the plants have been nicely culti- 



ORCHARDS. 139 

vated in the nursery rows two years, they are ready For trans- 
planting into the orchard. They will then be from four to 
six feet high, which is the best size to transplant; for small 
size plants, with an even balance of fibrous roots, which they 
should have, are transplanted with much less labor than large 
ones. They take a deep and firm hold in the ground, are not 
shaken and careened by high winds when clothed with foliage 
in Summer time, as large-sized newly-transplanted trees are; 
and lastly, the small-sized trees will often push up rapidly, 
soon overtake and shoot far ahead of the large ones if the 
large ones are not well attended to. Every side branch should 
be removed at transplanting, and the main stem cut back to 
three or three and a half feet from the roots, the topmost buds, 
two or three, as it may be, will push out rapidly, and soon the 
head will be formed. If only one bud (which is not often the 
case) starts out, it should be pinched off to three buds on the 
new growth. But we are getting along too fast, not having 
given due importance to the preparation of the borders and 
the transplanting. We prefer a thorough preparation of the 
whole soil in the plat by the plow and sub-soiler, if the soil 
is not naturally deep, to the digging of large holes, which is 
too laborious, and when holes are dug, the trees are almost 
certain to be transplanted too deep, which is a great error with 
many who are not experienced. We take a turning plow, two 
or three horses, and plow out the rows in the fallowed land, 
running two or three times in the same furrow, at from thirty 
to thirty -five feet distance ; then cross in like manner ; then 
scrape back the mellow soil a little from the cross, and spade 
out about a bushel of the clay and fill in until nearly full with 
mellow soil, shaping to suit the roots of the plant. Set in the 
plant, straightening out the roots to their natural position, 
working the fine dirt well in about the starting out of the roots, 
being careful to have the plant when the earth settles no 
deeper than it grew in the nursery. Trees thus planted re- 
quire no staking, which would be a disadvantage, aside from 
the labor it would require. Keep the soil mellow and loose 
about them as you would about corn, adding a little surface 
manure of almost any kind, working it in occasionally; and, 



140 ORCHARDS. 

be assured, you will gather fruit there in a very feAV years. 
Prune thoroughly for the first four or five years by thinning 
out the heads of the trees, by cutting out all crowded and 
crossing branches; shape to the form of a pyramid by pre- 
serving a main leader, and cutting back all rambling side 
branches. This may be performed at any time that you may 
be passing, and with no greater weapon than a pocket-knife 
and by pinching with the forefinger and thumb. A little 
judgment and experience will soon enable the fruit grower to 
understand this performance. What kinds to cultivate is, per- 
haps, the most puzzling question (even to the experienced 
orchardist) in the whole matter, although there are hundreds 
of kinds of apples of high reputation in certain localities, de- 
scribed and figured in the catalogues of nurserymen, and 
recommended for general cultivation. It does not hold good 
that any kind of apple that has succeeded in some particular 
locality will suit at all the soil and climate of another; for 
instance, experience teaches us that almost all northern apples 
of high reputation — that is, those kinds that have had their 
origin in the North — are comparatively worthless when culti- 
vated as far south as Virginia. There are only a few kinds- 
of Summer and Fall apples from the North that have done 
well with us. Their finest winter apples are not to be relied 
upon at all as late keepers here. Their Winter apples become 
Fall apples here, and their Fall apples become late Summer 
apples, and their Summer apples ripen much earlier here than 
there. The "Early Joe," from the State of New York, is a 
Summer apple of superior excellence here. The "Mother" 
apple, from Massachusetts, is a delightful Fall fruit here, and 
some of their Winter apples — such as "Northern Spy," "King 
of Tompkin's City" — are fine Fall fruit here; and there are 
some foreign varieties — for instance, "Red Astrachan," "Yel- 
low Bellefleur," &c. — which have proved to be very good here. 
"Climate, soil, and situation exert a mighty influence, not 
only over the apple alone, but every other species of fruit. 
This is very apparent to any careful observer in any neigh- 
borhood, even here in this fine fruit growing section of coun- 
try. For instance, the "Albemarle Pippin," transplanted 



ORCHARDS. 141 

outside cf its natural home, a good, rich mountain loam and 
elevated position, is not worth cultivating; and, on the con- 
trary, the "Wine Sap," and many other kinds, thrive best on 
least elevated places, and in a soil of a different description. 
Almost every neighborhood in this favored section has one or 
more fine natural kinds which have sprung up from seed, and 
it is upon these that we must build our hopes, especially for late 
keepers ; and we are happy to say that we have some natural 
productions that far excel in form, color, and high flavor any 
thing that we have seen that came from the North or from 
Europe. 

"As I said that the apple was the great fruit of all fruits, 
the "Pilot Apple," a natural seedling of Nelson county, Va., 
is the great apple of all apples in our acquaintance. The 
tree is a magnificent grower, apparently hardy as an oak. 
The fruit is large, handsomely formed, and of the finest 
flavor, both for the dessert and for cooking. But, to close 
this article, already long, I will name a few kinds that have 
proved best with us, and will name them in order as they 
ripen: Striped July, Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, large 
Yellow Bough, American Summer Pearmain, Fall Pippm, 
Annate Apple, Fall Cheese, Yellow Bellefleur, Mother Apple, 
Vandevere of New York, King of Tompkin's City, Northern 
Spy, Raule's Genet, Pilot Apple, Albemarle Pippin, Wine 
Sap, Limbertwig, Father Abraham, and Black's Hardtimes. 

"J. D. 

"P. S. — As to the best time to transplant, I would say any 
time that the ground is in good working order, from the fall of 
the leaf to the putting forth of the buds — a damp day to be 
preferred. J. D." 

WARNING. 

In the selection of varieties, the orchardist should be influ- 
enced by the climate of his location. The climates, even of 
the South, differ very much. The reputation of many fruits 
will greatly depend on their location. What may be strictly 
true of a fruit raised in the Valley of Virginia, may be as 
strictly false of the same variety if grown in the maritime clis- 



142 OECHAEDS. 

tricts of Georgia or South Carolina. In the one case, it may 
he of the very hest quality, and in the other, entirely worth- 
less. 

In the following Lists of Apples, the author has taken much 
pains, perhaps more than any other author, to impress upon 
the pomologist the importance of judicious selections of vari- 
eties, so that he may exercise proper discrimination — for his 
success or failure depends, in a great degree, on careful selec- 
tion. Our nurserymen are, generally, reliable and intelligent, 
and those who design planting an orchard would do well to 
consult those nearest their location, and patronize the nursery 
whose soil and climate come nearest to that in which the trees 
are to he planted. 

It is seldom necessary or profitable to plant a great number 
of varieties — only the amateur can afford to do this ; but con- 
fine your choice to a few of the very best varieties for each 
season, however large may be the orchard, which, from the 
best information you can get, are adapted to your locality. 



ORCHARDS. 



143 



SOUTHERN AND WESTERN APPLES— REVISED CATALOGUE. 

Selected from the Catalogue of the Committee of Revision, presented and 
accepted at the meeting of the American Pomological Society, held at 
t Richmond, Va., in September, 1871. 



$m. Summer Peannain | 

Albemarle Pippin 

S^mericanJ&ulden Russet.... 

Ben. Davis 

Brooke's Pippin 

Danver's Winter Sweet 

Dutchess of Oldenburg 

Carolina Red June : 

lannon Pearruain 

Early Harvest ......' 

Early Red Margaret 

iarly Strawberry — lied Ju- 

neating 

Jomine 

'■ Fall Queen — Buckingham, 

' Batchelor ': 

Fall Pippin I 

Falla water — Tulpehocken | 

Gilpin — Cart House j 

Gravenstein 

Green Cheese 

Hewe's Va. Crab — (cider)... A 

Horse ..| 

Junaluskee ; 

Loudon Pippin ] 

Large Yellow Bough.. 

Lawver 

Limbertwig 

McAfee's Nonesuch... 



h 



Use. \Season, 
F. 



F. M. 
F. M. 
K.M, 
F. M 
F. M. 

M 
F. M 

F 
F. M. 
F. M. 

F 

F. M. 

F. M. 

M. 

M. 
F. M 
F. M. 
F. M 

K. M 
F. M 

M 
F. M. 
F. M. 

M. 
F. M. 



W. 

w. 

w. 
w.! 

w.l 

s. 

s. 
w. 

s. 

s. 

s 
w. 

A. 

L. A. 

W. 

w. 

L. A. 

W. 

L. A. 

S. 

w. 

w. 
s. 
w. 
w. 
w. 



Maiden's Blush 

Mason's Stranger 

Man gum 

Michael Henry Pippin 

Milam 

Nickaiack (of forty names)... 

Ortlev 

Pryor'sRed 

Red Astrachan 

*Rawles' Genet (worthy **) 

Romanite, of the South 

Sboclcley 

Smith's Cider 

Smoke House 

Summer Queen 

Summer Rose 

Wangh's Crab (cider' 

Wellford's Yellow 

White Juneating 

Wine 

Wine Sap (has a wide range) 
Winter Sweet Paradise.. 

Yellow Bellerleur 

York Imperial , 

Pilot 

Higby Sweet 

Baltimore 

Grimes' Golden Pippin.. 



Use. I 


Reason 


K.M. 


E.A. 


F. M.j 


W. 


K.M. 


W. 


K. M. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


K. M. 


s. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


K. M. 


w. 


K. M. 


s. 


F. 


s. 




w. 


M. 


w. 


F. M. 


s. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. 


w. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. M 


w. 


M. 


w. 


F. 


L.A. 


F. M. 


w. 


F. 


w. 



One * designates recommended. 

Two ** gives the character of superiorly for family and market use. 

The f indicates varieties that have been on trial not less than 5 years. 

F, — Family tis_g.-'"'' 

F. M.— Family and Market. 

*This fine French apple was introduced and named by Mr. Jefferson, 
and was first naturalized in Albemarle county, Virginia. Mr. Jefferson 
obtained the scions during the administration of Washington, through 
the French Minister, M. Genet, whilst he was Secretary of State. The 
scions were placed in the hands of Mr. Rawles, of Virginia, a nursery- 
man by profession, and were disseminated throughout this State and 
Kentucky. The name has been mis-spelt in various ways. It should 
be R a-w-1-e-s' G-e-n-e-t. We get the most of this information from the 
13th Report of the American Pomological Society. 

NEW APPLES. 

The following list of new Southern apples was favorably 
spoken of by the Committee on New Fruits at the 13th session 
of the American Pomological Society, held at Richmond, in 
September, 1871. The most of these fruits were winter vari- 
eties, and the specimens unripe : 



144 ORCHARDS. 

Mason s Stranger. Unripe, Brunswick county, Va., (by J. 

R. Jones.) 

Sight other unnamed seedlings, all unripe, same county and 

State, (by the same.) 

Pilot. Unripe, Nelson county, Va , (by the same.) 
Seedling. Fair looking, Nelson Co., Va., (by G. W. Purvis.) 
Dinwiddle. Unripe, Albemarle county, Va., (from W. W. 

Dinwiddie.) 

A seedling. Unripe, fair looking, Albemarle county, Va.. 

(from the same.) 

Via. Good, Albemarle county, Va., (by Dollins & Bro.) 
Taney's Prize. Good to very good, Albemarle county, Va., 

(by the same.) 

Matilda. Good to very good, Albemarle county, Va., (by 

the same.) 

Ragland. Very good, Albemarle Co., Va., (by the same.) 
Brown's Seedling. Rockbridge Co., Va., (F. Davis & Co.) 
Seedlings. Some fair looking, but all unripe, Rockbridge 

county, Va., (B. H. Jones.) 

TIDE- WATER REGION— VIRGINIA. 

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY. 

List furnished by Dixen W. Kitchen. 

Early Summer. — May apple, Yellow June, Princess' Har- 
vest, Hagloe, Red Astrachan, Gravenstein. 

Summer. — Horse apple, Orange Pippin, Cathead, Sheep- 
nose, Pound apple, Gregory's Red. 

Autumn. — Wine Sap, Gordon's Seedling, Baltimore Red, 
Pallawater (Tulpehocken), Limbertwig, Beaman's Seedling. 

Wijnter. — Large Vine, Isaac, Matimuskite, Nansemond 
Beauty, Ridley, Golden Pippin. 

For cider and brandy, the Gregory and Horse apple are 
the most approved. 

The above list, furnished by an experienced orchardist, who 
grows the fruits he recommends, is valuable, being adapted to 
the Tide-water regions of Virginia and North Carolina. 



ORCHARDS. 145 

LIST OF EARLY BEARING VARIETIES. 

The following varieties are generally very early bearers, 
and, in order to sustain vigorous growth in the young trees, 
the fruit in many cases will have to be thinned out when a 
little less than the size of a hickory nut : 

Juneating, white, long stem, (earliest Va. apple) ; G-olden 
Dixie — This is a new variety from seed, originated in the 
seedling orchard of the author of this work. It is a large 
bright yellow, crisp, juicy, sub-acid, tender apple, matures in 
August, and will be propagated in the Nursery and Experi- 
mental Orchards of the Hermitage Nurseries, Richmond, Va., 
by Mr. John M. Allan; Smith's Cider; Sweet June (or 
High Top Sweet); Early Pennock; A. S. Pearmain; Fall 
Wine; Fall Queen; Fameuse; Lowell; Monte Bello ; Ben. 
Davis ; Domine ; Jonathan ; Limbertwig ; Ramanite ; Wine 
Sap; Catline (Coxe, Thompson), Q-regson Apple; Summer 
Sweet Paradise (August and September) ; Ramsdell's Sweet- 
ing (October to February). 

LIST OF APPLES FOR SANDY SOILS. 

Yellow Bellefleur, finest quality; Morris' Winter (Han- 
over, Va., new); American Summer Pearmain; Rambo (a 
native of the banks of the Delaware); Winter Pearmain 
(Coxe) ; Pearmain, Herfordshire ; Vandevere ; Wine Sap ; 
Cooper's Russeting (cider); Minister; Peck's Pleasant; 
Priestly (Coxe, Thompson). 

VARIETIES FOR SLATY SOILS. 

The following varieties originated in slaty soils, or are well 
adapted to such soils : 

Roman Beauty — A good fall and early Winter apple ; large, 
yellow and bright red, bears young and full and regularly, 
one of the best, (Ohio) ; Gfolden Dixie ; large, yellow Sum- 
mer apple, best, (already described); Winter Pearmain (Coxe); 
Herefordshire Pearmain, (Thompson) ; Wine Sap, (stand- 
ard) ; Cooper's Russeting, (Coxe), cooking or cider. It makes 
11 




Yellow Bellefle 



Apple. 



ORCHARDS. 147 

exceedingly strong cider ; Tyler s Rennet, (new), Virginia — ■ 
late Summer, of very superior quality. 

CIDER APPLES FOR GENERAL CULTIVATION. 

Wine Sap ; "Wine Apple ; Hewe's Virginia Crab ; Hagloe 
Crab, (early cider and vinegar) ; Cooper's Russeting, (sandy 
soils) ; Gilpin, (Carthouse), Virginia apple, good, very pro- 
ductive ; Harrison, ten bushels make a barrel of cider, good ; 
Campfield, next to the Harrison ; Smith's Cider, medium to 
large, also fine for cooking ; French Crab, productive, npakes 
fine cider ; Rawles' 6renet, late, productive ; Red Streak, 
handsome grower and great bearer, (English.) 

APPLES FOR PRESERVING OR FOR ORNAMENT. 

Siberian Crab — Rich and beautiful. 

Large Red Siberian Crab — Large tree, highly esteemed. 

Yellow Siberian Crab — Larger than the red, highly 
esteemed. 

Chinese Crab — Double flowering, showy blossoms and 
fruit. 

Hyslop's Crab — Large, deep crimson, very popular at the 
West. 

Transcendant Crab — Very beautiful, red and yellow, tree 
strong grower. 

Golden Beauty, Crab — Medium size, yellow, with red cheek ; 
beautiful. 

SELECT LIST OF APPLES FOR SMALL ORCHARDS 
OR GARDENS. 

FOR GENERAL CULTIVATION. 

Winter. — Albemarle Pippin, (Va.) ; Wine Sap ; Falla< 
water; Gully, (South Carolina); Nickajack, (Southern); 
Pilot, (Nelson Co., Va.); Pryor's Red; Grims' Golden, (rvnnual, 
best) ; Sweet Genet, new, (escapes frost) ; Swaar ; Rawles' 
Genet; Limbertwig ; Hubbardston Nonesuch. 

Fall. — Gravenstein ; Yellow Bellefleur, (Nov.) ; Powers, 
large, beautiful, (Ohio seedling) ; Dominie ; Fall Pippin ; 



148 ORCHARDS. 

Rambo ; Maiden's Blush ; American Golden Russet ; Porter ; 
Baldwin ; Smith's Cider, good for all purposes ; Mote Sweet, 
sup. new, from N. C. seedling ; Celestia, very best, new, 
from N. C. seedling. 

Summer. — Whue Juneating ; Red Astrachan ; Early Har- 
vest ; Early Margaret ; Bough, large sweet ; Red June ; 
Golden Dixie, best, new ; Summer Queen ; Caroline June, red; 
Benoni ; Sweet June ; Sops of Wine. 

LIST FOR THE TIDE- WATER OR MARITIME DIS- 
TRICT OF THE SOUTH. 

SUMMER APPLES. 

Bough, Large Sweet, July and August. 

Early Harvest, June and July. 

Bed Astraclian, July to August. 

Sweet Bough, during August. 

Early Red Margaret, about first July. 

Red June (Carolina Red), June and first July. 

Large Yellow Bough, July and August. 

Summer Queen, first of August. 

White Juneating, middle to last June. 

American Summer Pearmain, high flavored, splendid. 

Golden Dixie, this is a splendid, large, tender, yellow, 
apple; August, origin Albemarle Co., Va. 

Hagloe, (Coxe), superior for table and. for cider, ripe in 
August. 

Julian (Southern variety), yellow and crimson, medium 
size, high flavored, very promising, August. 

Summer Sweet Paradise, large, pale green, tinged with 
yellow, very good, August. 

Sweet June, (High top sweet), yellow and red, very good, 
June and July. 

AUTUMN APPLES. 

Bellefleur, Yellow, November, (February in the Valley 
of Virginia.) 

Dominie, November, late Fall. 



ORCHARDS. 149 

Fall Pippin, September to November, 

Rambo, late Autumn, best. 

Smith's Cider, November, cooking and cider. 

Catline, (Coxe, Thompson), native of Maryland, first rate, 
late Fall. 

Fall or Holland Pippin, one of the finest and most beauti- 
ful apples, (European.) 

Smokehouse, large, roundish striped, fine quality, November. 

Maiden's Blush, medium size, pale yellow, with red cheek, 
tender and pleasant, beautiful. 

Gf-ravenstein, very large, striped, first quality, September. 

Vandevere, (Coxe, Thompson, Floy.), Oxeye of Ohio and 
Indiana ; a native of Wilmington, Delaware. When in per- 
fection is one of the most beautiful and finest of apples; 
large and roundish yellow ground, marbled with red, flesh 
yellow crisp, tender, with a sprightly flavor, flourishes in a 
light, rich, sandy soil. 

WINTER APPLES. 

Dominie. First class, early Winter, richly flavored. 

Fallaivater. Best ; November to January. 

Carthouse or Romanite. December to April, (for Virginia 
and the Carolinas.) 

Jonathan. Productive, tender, juicy ; November to March. 

Limbertwig. Good grower and bearer ; January to April. 

Nickajack. Large, tree very robust, long keeping; South- 
ern apple. 

Pilot. (Origin Nelson Co., Va.,) first class, new, worth 
trying. 

Pryor's Red. Old, first-class, (Virginia) ; Nov. to March. 

Pomme D'Api, or Lady Apple. Nov. to May ; celebrated. 

Rawles' Genet. Never fail, one of the best, escapes frost ; 
December to April. 

Vandevere. Most beautiful ; rich, light sandy soil. 

Waxen Apple. Eastern Virginia (Coxe), skin yellow, Ver- 
million blush, waxy, tender ; November to February. 

Wine Sap. Good in most soils and situations, especially 
those of light sandy texture. 



150 ORCHARDS. 

Cooper's Russeting. Splendid cider apple for sandy soils ; 
November. 

Gilpin. A handsome cider fruit from Virginia (Downing), 
February to May. 

Hewe's Virginia Crab. An unsurpassed cider apple, 
makes a bright liquor, keeps all Summer. 

Harrison. The celebrated cider apple of New Jersey, ten 
bushels make a barrel of cider. 

Peck's [Pleasant. Large, clear yellow, red in the sun; 
gravelly soils ; early Winter. 

Baldwin. Large and fine, does well in most situations. 

Woolman's Long or white Bellefleur. (Southern portions of 
the West) ; great bearer. 
. American White Winter Calville. Large, pale yellow, 
(origin Virginia) ; December to May 

Mason Pippin. (Origin Brunswick Co., Va) ; new, beau- 
tiful, large ; December to April. 

Wine Apple. (Downing) ; handsome table and cider fruit. 

Dutch Magnonne. (Downing) ; magnificent, delicious ; 
November to February. 

Buff Apple. Succeeds well in North Carolina ; high re- 
commendations from Buncome Co. 

Gully. (South Carolina); splendid, November to March. 

Swaar. Very fine, rich deep sandy soil ; Winter. 

Spitzenburg. Rich and excellent ; November to February. 

Grimes' Golden. (Grimes' Golden Pippin) ; an apple of 
the highest quality (Va.) ; November to May. 

LIST FOR THE MOUNTAINOUS SECTIONS OF THE 

SOUTH. 

Including the Piedmont Region of Virginia, and corresponding 
portions of Maryland. 

Summer Apples. 

Summer Queen. Large, conical, striped with red, very rich, 
high flavor ; July and August. 

American Summer Pearmain. Medium size, smooth skin, 
tender and juicy ; September. 



ORCHARDS. 151 

Early Harvest. Medium, pale yellow, sub-acid, best early, 
market apple. 

Astrachan Red. Large, nearly covered with deep crimson, 
juicy, rich ; July and August. 

Golden Dixie. Originated in Albemarle Co., Va., large, 
bright yellow, flesh white, crisp, juicy, rich, very superior ; 
August. 

Bough, Large Sweet. Large, pale yellow, sweet rich flavor ; 
July and August. 

May Apple. Small, round, pale yellow, sub -acid ; June in 
Virginia ; for South. 

Summer Rose. Rather small, yellow with red cheek, flesh 
tender ; June and July. 

Early Margaret. Medium to small, bright red, crisp juicy ; 
July. 

Early Strawberry. Medium, striped with deep red, tender, 
sub-acid ; July and August. 

Summer Pippin. Rather large, yellow, flesh white, juicy > 
tender ; August. 

Keswick Codlin. Large, oblong, pale yellow, acid, excel- 
lent for cooking ; July to October. 

Red Juneating, Red June, or Carolina Red. Small or 
medium, deep red, good, hardy ; June and July. 

Striped Juneating, sometimes called Red Margaret. Believed 
to be distinct, best quality. 

White Juneating. Small, yellow, faint blush, flesh white, 
crisp, great bearer, earliest, June. 

Early Ripe. Large, oblong, yellow, tender, juicy, sub- 
acid, productive ; early July. 

Woolman's Harvest. A handsome striped apple, fine fla- 
vor ; ripens early in July. 

Golden Sweet. Large, medicinal, round, pale yellow, flesh 
tender, sweet and rich ; August. 

Spice Sweet. Large, flat, smooth, pale yellow ground, 
bright red; early in August. 

Summer Bellefleur. Large, handsome, a good grower 
and bearer ; August. 



152 ORCHARDS. 

Julian Summerour. A fine apple cultivated in Habersham 
Co., Georgia. 

Early Joe. Fruit medium, color pale yellowish green, 
mixed with stripes and splashes of dark red, flesh yel- 
lowish white, tender crisp. Most delicious of all Summer 
apples. 

Summer Sweet Paradise. Large, roundish, pale green, 
sometimes tinged with yellow in the sun ; flesh crisp, tender, 
very juicy, with a sweet, rich aromatic flavor ; tree a mode- 
rate grower and great bearer ; very good ; August. 

Cole's Queen Apple. Large to very large, flatish conical, 
bright yellow, flesh when first ripe, firm, juicy, pleasant acid; 
when mellow, remarkably tender, of a mild rich quince flavor, 
and aroma ; July to September. 

FALL APPLES. 

Alexander. This is a magnificent Russian apple — fruit large, 
superb ; beautiful large blossoms ; January. 

Rambo. Medium, round, greenish yellow, tender, juicy and 
pleasant; October to January. 

Dominie. Medium, flat, greenish yellow, sub-acid, juicy and 
rich ; late Fall and early Winter. 

Bellefleur, Yellow. Large, oblong, yellow, with a blush — 
rich; late Autumn. 

Beauty of Kent. Very large, striped with red, juicy, 
crisp, tender ; October. 

Butter. Rather large, striped with red, sweet, best cooking ; 
September. 

Gravenstein. Large, roundish, striped with red, tender, 
juicy, rich, best ; September. 

Fall Pippin. Very large, smooth skin, yellowish green, 
very best ; September to December. 

Baldwin. Large, mostly colored with red, crisp and rich, 
first class ; November and December. 

Maiden's Blush. Medium to large, pale yellow, with car- 
mine blush, tender, sprightly; August to October. 

Red Streak. Medium to large, round, yellow striped, 
tinged with red, juicy, pleasant ; October to December. 



ORCHARDS. 153 

Smokehouse. Large, oblate, striped with red, firm, juicy, 
crisp and rich ; September to December. 

Red Siberian Crab. Already described ; last September 
and October. 

Yellow Siberian Crab. Already described ; October. 

Sweet Red Streak. Medium, striped with red, sweet fla- 
vor, very productive; September to December. 

Porter. Rather large, bright yellow, tender crisp, sub- 
acid ; September and October. . 

Rhode Island Greening. Large, green, popular apple ; 
November. 

Vandevere. Above medium, striped yellow and red — rich, 
good bearer; last of October to December. 

Robinson's White. Medium, crisp, juicy, highly esteemed ; 
October and November. 

Summer Rambo. Large, striped with red, mild, sub-acid ; 
September and October. 

Buckingham. Large, skin clear, pale yellow, juicy, sweet, 
tender, rich; November. 

Jersey Sweeting. Best quality — succeeds well in all situa- 
tions ; September to October. 

French Crab. Very productive, vigorous grower, fine cider 
apple. 

Hewe's Virginia Crab. The old and popular cider apple 
of the South. 

Smith's Cider. Medium to large — the rival of the Virginia 
crab — supersedes it in Maryland. 

Quince Apvle. (Coxe) Large, flatish, yellow; flesh yellow- 
ish; juicy, crisp — very pleasant; November. 

Groose Pen. Somewhat resembles the Wine Sap, and by 
no means its inferior ; November to March. 

Fall Wine. Highly recommended by Ohio Fruit Conven- 
tion. (No description.) 

Abram or " Father Abram." Medium, striped with red — 
keeps well ; April. 

Twenty Ounce Apple. (H. Mag.) Downing. A very large, 
showy apple. It is a good sprightly fruit, though not very 
high flavored; but its remarkably handsome appearance, and 




Wine Sap Apple. 



ORCHARDS. 155 

extra large size, render it one of the most popular fruits in 
market. The tree is thrifty, and makes a compact head; 
bears regular crops, and the fruit is always fair and hand- 
some. Fruit very large, roundish, skin slightly uneven, yel- 
lowish green, delicately striped, and splashed with red, which 
on the sunny side quite covers the surface. Flesh not very 
fine grained, juicy, sprightly, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor. 

WINTER APPLES. 

Wine Sap. Fruit medium size, roundish, deep red, skin 
smooth, with few streaks, a little yellow on shady side, flesh 
yellow, crisp, firm, high flavor, rich. We adopt the language 
of an eminent Virginia nurseryman,* and say: "We can 
scarcely find words sufficiently strong to express the high 
opinion we have of this fruit, possessing, as it does, a combi- 
nation of so many excellent qualities. For cider, it has but few 
equals ; for the table, it stands among the best ; for keeping, 
it is justly esteemed; and for bearing it scarcely has a rival."f 

Albemarle Pippin. "Large, roundish, irregular, smooth, 
yellowish green; flesh yellow, firm, juicy, aromatic and rich. 
The great Winter apple of the Piedmont section, but inclined 
to speck in Tide-water Virginia — does well in some portions 
of the Valley of Virginia; January to April." Described as 
above by the President of the Virginia Nursery and Wine 
Company, Richmond. Mr. Davis says: "We consider the 
Albemarle Pippin, Newtown Pippin, and Brooks' Pippin as 
identical. No apple stands higher in the market than this, 
or brings as high a price. It succeeds finely in the red soil 
of the mountains and rich valleys of the Piedmont region, and 
in most parts of the Valley of Virginia. It requires a deep, 
rich, warm soil to bring it to its highest perfection. (Suc- 
ceeds admirably in Jefferson and Berkley counties, Va.) Most 

* Franklin Davis, Esq., of the Richmond, Va., Nursery. 

fMr. C. T. Botts, of the Southern Planter, said, in 1845, "Take it 
altogether, we believe it is the finest apple that grows in America — and 
if we were setting out an orchard of a thousand trees, eight hundred of 
them should be Wine Saps." 



156 ORCHARDS. 

fruit growers contend that this splendid apple is bona fide an 
Albemarle County, Virginia, apple. 

Pryors Red. Above medium, reddish russet, rich, and 
high flavored — a popular old variety in Eastern Virginia, and 
farther South — a native of Virginia; November to March. 

Pom/me D'Api, or Lady Apple. A beautiful dessert fruit; 
November to May. 

Rawles' Genet. Already described. Succeeds in most of 
the West and South. 

Nickajack. Large, globular, dull red, sub-acid — tree very 
robust. A Southern apple, valuable as a long keeping vari- 
ety; January to April. 

Limbertwig. A well known old Southern apple — above 
medium size, color dull, purplish red, flavur sub-acid, rich, 
aromatic — tree thrifty and very productive — keeps well; Feb- 
ruary to April. 

Swaar. Large, pale lemon yellow, with dark red dots — 
rich and spicy — slender grower, moderate bearer, but excel- 
lent quality — worthy of general culture ; middle of November 
to April. 

Spitzenburg Esopus. Above medium, deep red, with gray 
spots, rich and excellent — does rather better in the Valley of 
Virginia and Southwestern States ; November to February. 

Oarthonse, or Romanite.. Medium, round, striped, sub- 
acid and agreeable — an early and heavy bearer — a very valu- 
able variety for Eastern Virginia and North Carolina. 

Baldwin. Large, roundish, skin yellow in the shade, with 
a blush in red soils. Nearly covered and striped with crim- 
son — crisp, juicy, rich — succeeds well in the mountains of 
Virginia and North Carolina ; October to January. 

White Winter Pearmain. Medium to large, light yellow, 
tender, rich, mild, sub-acid — tree strong grower and produc- 
tive; December to March. Also highly esteemed at the West 
and Southwest. 

Winter Siveet Paradise. Large, globular, yellowish white, 
tender, juicy, very sweet; December to March. A great 
bearer and fair fruit. 



ORCHARDS. 157 

*Lady Apple. Small, glossy, and beautiful. Described 
farther on. 

Yelloio Bellefleur. Large, oblong, with a blush on one 
side — -juicy rich flavor. Tree a rapid grower and very pro- 
ductive. In the Tidewater districts, to which it is well adapted, 
it is a late Fall apple. In the Valley of Virginia it keeps 
until February or March. It always commands a high price 
in market. Coxe first described this fruit. The original tree 
grew in Burlington, New Jersey. We follow Thompson, says 
Downing, in calling it Bellefleur, from the beauty of its 
blossoms, with the class of French apples to which it belongs. 
It is well adapted to slaty, sandy, and thrives well in lime- 
stone soils. 

Ben. Davis. (Kentucky Red Streak.) Large, handsome, 
striped apple of excellent quality. Tree very hardy, vigorous 
and productive — a late keeper — highly esteemed in the West 
and Southwest. 

Grrimes' Gf-olden (Grimes' Golden Pippin). An apple of 
the highest quality, equal to the- Albemarle or Newtown 
Pippin — medium to large size, yellow — tree hardy, vigorous, 
productive; originally from Virginia; grown in Southern 
Ohio and throughout the South and West; January to April. 

Buff Apple. A celebrated North Carolina apple — very 
fine, large size — much cultivated in Buncombe county. 

Cullasaga. A fine apple, cultivated in Habersham county, 
Georgia. • 

Mason Pippin. Origin, Brunswick county, Va. A beau- 
tiful yellow Pippin, bearing a close resemblance to the Albe- 
marle Pippin, of which it is probably a seedling, and esteemed 
as equal to it. Medium to large, bright clear yellow; shaded 
On one side with light russet dots; flesh white, crisp and 
juicy — rich sweet flavor ; December to April. 

King of Tompkins County. Large, yellowish, shaded 

*This splendid little market apple is popular in Norfolk, London, and Paris. It often 
commands from $10 to $30, when carefully selected and packed, and shipped in fine order. 
It is well adapted to the upland parts of Maryland, and red land counties of Virginia 
and North Carolina. All farmers who cultivate for market should give special atten- 
tion to this beautiful and profitable variety. 



158 ORCHARDS. 

with red, splashed with crimson ; tender, with a rich vinous 
flavor. 

Ahram. Medium, striped with red — flesh rather firm, with 
an agreeable aromatic flavor — a good bearer, and keeps well ; 
April. 

Beverly % Red. Large red, showy, keeps well, ; quality- 
very good. 

Cullasaga. Large, red, high-flavored, vigorous grower and 
good keepers ; January to April. 

Jonathan. Medium, roundish, ovate, tender and juicy — 
skin yellow, covered with bright red stripes — slender growth, 
but productive; November to March. 

Gully. A South Carolina apple — medium size, green, 
striped with red skin — high flavor and a good keeper; No- 
vember to March. 

Fallaivater, or Tulpehocken. Large, greenish yellow, with 
dull red cheek, slightly conical, juicy, sub-acid — vigorous 
grower, and very productive ; worthy of general culture; No- 
vember to January. 

ComaJc's Sweet. Medium, green, rich, aromatic, crooked, 
straggling grower ; November to May. 

Milam. Rather below medium size, smooth, yellow, 
covered with ?narbled red and indistinct stripes — flesh white, 
tender, crisp, juicy; flavor sub-acid, tree a regular annual 
bearer, very productive; November to February. Very 
popular in the Piedmont district, where it succeeds admir- 
ably. 

Dominie. Large size, flat, striped with red — flesh white, 
juicy, firm, mild, sub-acid, sprightly, pleasant flavor; keeps 
through Winter into Spring; a rapid grower and prodigious 
bearer. In the Valley of Virginia, and West Virginia, it is 
a first class Winter apple — deserves extensive cultivation. 

Rambo. Medium, round, greenish yellow, striped with 
red, tender, juicy and pleasant — tree vigorous, erect, and 
very productive ; is one of the best early winter apples for 
the Piedmont and Valley regions, and stands at the head of the 
list of Autumn apples in the maritime sections of the South. 



ORCHARDS. 159 

Red Streak. " An English apple,— Medicinal ; rich, firm, 
dry, a handsome grower and great bearer." (Coxe). "A capi- 
tal English cider apple — it makes a rich, high-flavored, strong 
liquor, and thrives admirably in this country. Handsome 
grower and great bearer." (Downing.) " Medium to large, 
round, yellow striped, and clouded with bright red ; flesh 
yellow, juicy and very pleasant; November and December." 
(Allan). 

Romanite or Carthouse. Medium size, roundish, oblong, 
striped, and shaded with deep reel on greenish yellow ground ; 
flesh yellow, firm, juicy, rich, becoming tender and sprightly 
in the Spring ; valuable and well adapted to the South — an 
early and profuse bearer ; January to May. 

Roxbury Russet. A popular market fruit — excellent — a 
prodigious bearer, and keeps until late in the Spring. Fruit 
medium size, sometimes large, roundish, surface rough, green- 
ish, covered with russet — valuable for its long keeping quali- 
ties — does not shrivel as some other native Russets, or 
"Leather Coats" do. 

Pilot. A new variety of great promise,* recently dissem- 
inated from Nelson county, Va., where it originated, and 
stands u pa?° excellence among apples." Size large, round, 
sometimes approaching conical ; color, striped with red on 
yellow ground, overspread with dots and specks of russet ; 
flesh yellowish, fine-grained, crisp and juicy, with a mild, 
sub-acid flavor ; a good bearer, and keeps well and late ; De- 
cember to March. 

Pryors Red. A very large and valuable market apple — 
well adapted to general cultivation — native of Virginia. 
(Already described). 

Nickajack. An apple of high Southern reputation — fruit 
roundish, large, skin striped and splashed with crimson — 
flesh yellow, tender, crisp, juicy, with a fine rich sub-acid 
flavor ; November to May. 



* The Pomological Society and Agricultural Societies of this State have awarded pre- 
miums for this fine new apple. Its popularity in the Piedmont region of Virginia is 
unbounded. The original tree is still standing in Nelson county. Mr. Allan, Presi- 
dent of the Virginia Horticultural and Pomological Society, says of this apph; : A 
variety of good promise, recently received from Nelson county, Va., where it originated, 
and stands par excellence amoiig apples." We give his description of this fine fruit. 



160 ORCHARDS. 

Limbertwig. An old, well known Southern apple ; Janu- 
ary to June ; hardy — will grow in various soils — valuable. 

LIST FOR THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA. 

West Virginia, and Southwestern States, including portions 
of the Western States. 

SUMMER VARIETIES. 

Early Harvest. Rather large, round, yellow, flesh nearly 
white, tender, juicy, crisp, with a rich, sprightly, sub-acid 
flavor ; tree very productive — taking all its qualities into con- 
sideration, it has no superior amongst early apples ; July. 

Early Margaret. Medium to small — oblong, bright red, 
crisp, juicy, sub-acid ; tree erect pyramidical form ; good 
bearer — an excellent apple, ripening latter part July, directly 
after the Early Harvest. 

Golden Dixie.* Large, very bright yellow, sub-acid, crisp, 
tender, excellent ; August. 

Astrachan Red. Large, roundish, nearly covered with 
deep crimson, and thick bloom, juicy, rich, sub-acid — tree a 
vigorous grower and good bearer ; last of July to last of 
August. This is a fruit of extra beauty ; was imported into 
England from Sweden in 1816. 

Early Strawberry Apple. A beautiful variety, which is 
said to have originated in. the neighborhood of New York 
city — already described ; middle of August. 

American Summer Pearmain. (Thomp.) A rich, highly 
flavored fruit — medium size, oblong, nearly covered with 
streaks and dots of red ; flesh tender, juicy and rich; sub-acid 
flavor, fine, bears early and abundantly ; continues in use 
several weeks ; August and September. This is a valuable 
apple for all purposes ; it thrives admirably on moist soils, 
especially those that are rich and sandy. 

K,eswic~k Oodlin. Large, oblong, pale yellow, acid — tree 
erect and vigorous, bears quite young and abundantly — excel- 
lent for cooking ; middle July to November. 

Summer R.ose. Rather small, oblate, yellow with red 

* Hermitage Nurseries, Richmond, Va. 



ORCHARDS. 161 

cheek, flesh, very tender, crisp, mild, sub-acid, juicy, excel- 
lent — continues in use for a month or more — fine for gardens ; 
later than the Early Harvest ; July and August. 

Slimmer Pippin. Medium to large, roundish, yellow green, 
pink, streaked — irregular, but vigorous grower — productive ; 
August. 

Julian. — Medium size, yellow, much covered with crimson, 
and striped with the same — juicy and high flavored — a South- 
ern variety, promising well ; August and September. 

Summer Queen. Large, conical, striped with red — flesh 
yellowish, acid, with a very rich, high flavor — fine for culinary 
purposes ; last of July and throughout August. 

Primate. Medium size, greenish-white, with a crimson 
blush on the exposed side ; flesh white, very tender, sprightly, 
refreshing, mild sub-acid ; August and part September. 

Bough, or Sweet Bough. Large, pale yellow, sweet, rich 
flavor — tree, a moderate, compact grower, and abundant 
bearer — very desirable ; . July and August. 

Williams' Favorite. This is a splendid apple, cultivated 
in Southern Ohio. Large, oblong-ovate ; bright red in the 
sun ; little pale, yellow in the shade — flesh yellowish, white, 
fine, mild, pleasant, and excellent during all August and part 
September. 

Cf-olden Sweet, or Sweeting. Large, medicinal ; round, 
pale yellow, stem an inch, rather slender, in a narrow, deep 
cavity — flesh tender, of very sweet, rich, and excellent flavor ; 
September ; a good grower and great bearer. 

Large Yellow Bough. A large native apple, ripening in 
harvest time ; one of the first quality — only second as a 
dessert fruit to the Early Harvest — much admired for the 
table — is worthy of a place in every collection. 

Spice Sweet. Large, flat, smooth, pale yellow, very ten- 
der, sweet, excellent ; September. 

White Juneating. Downing says, " this is a very tolera- 
ble little apple, ripening about the very earliest ; last of June 
and first July; deserves a place in every collection." Fruit 
small, skin smooth, first light yellow, with faint blush on 
sunny side — crisp and pleasant. 
12 



162 ORCHARDS. 

Summer Sweet Paradise. Large, roundish, pale green, 
sometimes tinged with yellow in the sun; flesh tender, crisp, 
very juicy, with a sweet aromatic flavor; very good; August 
and September. 

AUTUMN VARIETIES. 

Fall Pippin. Very large, smooth skin, yellowish green, 
sub-acid, flesh whitish, very tender, breaking juicy, rich, fine 
for the table, superior for cooking, moderate in growth. In 
the southern part of New York, it is the leading Fall apple. 
This is supposed to be an American variety, Thompson and 
Lindley to the contrary notwithstanding. The Fall Pippin 
is a noble fruit, and is considered the first of Autumn apples 
in Maryland and Virginia ; October to January. 

Beauty of the West. (Ken.), fruit large, a sweet apple of 
fair flavor, round and regular. Skin smooth, light greenish 
yellow, with small red stripes. Flesh tender, juicy, sweet, 
and pleasant. A Fall apple, but will keep until December. 

Dominie. Medium size, medicinal, flat, greenish yellow, red 
and russet streaks in the sun ; stem half an inch long, slender, 
in a wide very deep cavity, calyx small, in a broad basin, 
flesh white, very tender, juicy, of a sprightly ^flavor. In the 
Valley and Western Virginia, it is a first class apple, keep- 
ing until March. 

Qatline. (Coxe, Thompson.) This is a native of Mary- 
land, and "o-e insert Mr. Coxe's description. " It is a great 
bearer, medium size, stalk short and thick, skin smooth, and 
of a beautiful yellow, with clear and brilliant red towards the 
sun, with numerous streaks and many dark spots scattered on 
the surface ; flesh pale yellow, tender, rich, juicy and sweet, as 
an eating apple in October ; November and December it is 
particularly fine. 

Gfravenstein. Large, roundish, striped, of first quality, 
tender, juicy and high flavored, vigorous, erect and produc- 
tive, perfectly hardy, very vigorous. One of the handsomest 
and best for all parts of the country. Early Winter apple 
at the North. 

Porter. Large, regular, oblong, tapering to the eye ; skin 
bright yellow, sometimes a dull blush in the sun, flesh tender, 



ORCHARDS. 163 

sub-acid, fine, fair and productive ; deserves general cultiva- 
tion ; September and October. 

Yellow Bellejieur. Very large, long ovate conical, irregu- 
lar ribbed, mostly towards the eye ; smooth, lemon yellow, gen- 
erally a blush in the sun, stem long, slender, in a narrow deep 
cavity, calyx closed in a narrow plaited basin, flesh tender, 
juicy, of a rich, sprightly aromatic flavor ; latter part of 
November to February ; good grower, moderate and con- 
stant bearer, one of the best in quality ; popular in all of the 
Southwest and West, and in new lands of the North, and 
strong soils of New York. It is particularly adapted to all 
gandy and gravely soils. Originated in Burlington, N. J. 

Baldivin. Large, mostly colored with red, crisp and rich, 
ranks among the very best ; tree upright, vigorous grower, 
and abundant bearer ; keeps in the Valley and West Virginia 
until February and March. This stands at the head of all 
New England apples, and is suited to general and extended 
cultivation. The flesh is yellowish white, crisp, with that 
agreeable mingling of the saccharine acid which constitutes a 
rich high flavor. 

Rhode Island Q-reening. Large green ; a popular apple 
and deserves general cultivation. Valuable for cooking, vig- 
orous grower, flesh yellowish, fine, tender, crisp, juicy, 
slightly acid and aromatic, rapid and stout grower, great 
bearer. One of the very best for main crops. It succeeds 
well on light or sandy soils. 

Robinson s White Medium, crisp, juicy and delicate fla- 
vor, a good bearer, highly esteemed; November to January 
in the Valley of Va. 

Cogswell, Synonyms. Ohio Nonpareil, Cogswell's Pearmain. 
Above medium size, roundish, regular and uniform, a rich 
yellow ground, with stripes, splashes and dots of red, stem 
medium length, rather slender, cavity open, regular, often rus- 
suted, calyx, medium or small, basin medium depth ; flesh yel- 
lowish, crisp, juicy, sprightly, tender, aromatic, sub-acid. A 
good bearer, always producing fair and even sized fruit. Tree 
very hardy, suited to general cultivation ; November to March. 

Rambo. ■ (Coxe, Thomp.) The Rambo is one of the most 



164 ORCHARDS. 

popular fruits to be found for market and for general cultiva- 
tion. It is a highly valuable apple for the table or kitchen 
and thrives well on most soils, especially on those that are 
light and sandy, it being a native of the banks of the Dela- 
ware. Fruit, medium size, round, greenish yellow, striped 
with red, tender, juicy and pleasant. Tree vigorous, erect, 
and very productive ; and is one of the best late Fall or early 
Winter apples for the Piedmont and Valley Districts of Vir- 
ginia and West Virginia, and is largely cultivated throughout 
the Western States. 

Righy Sweet. Synonyms, Trumbull Sweet, Fenton Sweet. 
Fruit, size medium or above ; form roundish, conical, flatten- 
ed at the ends, often one side enlarged or slightly oblique, 
color, pale yellow, with a faint tinge of red in the sun, and a 
few small, obscure, suffused reddish dots; flesh white, very 
tender, juicy, delicate, rich, sweet : season October to Decem- 
ber. Originated in Trumbull county, Ohio. 

Remarks. — This is comparatively a new variety, a very 
hardy tree, productive, and one of the most delicate of all the 
sweet apples. In the orchard, it makes a round, regular open 
head, and if well cultivated and manured when it is needed, 
it will bear annually and abundantly. It is especially suited 
to table use — too tender for shipment. 

Maiden s Blush. A remarkably beautiful apple, a native 
of New Jersey, and first described by Coxe. It begins to 
ripen about the last of August, and continues until the last of 
October. It has all the beauty of color of the pretty little 
Lady Apple, and is much cultivated and admired both for the 
table and for cooking. It is also very highly esteemed for 
drying. Fruit medium size, flat and quite smooth and fair ; 
skin thin, clear lemon yellow, with a colored cheek, some- 
times delicately tinged like a blush, and in others with a bril- 
liant red ; flesh white, tender, sprightly, with a pleasant sub- 
acid flavor. This variety forms a handsome, rapid growing 
tree, with a fine spreading head, and bears large crops." 
winter varieties. 

G-rimes' Gfolden. (Grimes' Golden Pippin.) An apple of the 
highest quality, nearly equal to the Albemarle Pippin, medium 



ORCHARDS. 165 

to large, yellow, tree hardy, vigorous, very productive; orig- 
inally from Virginia, grown in Southern Ohio, and through- 
out the Southwest, and West. 

Buff Apple. A celebrated North Carolina apple, very 
fine, large size, much cultivated in Buncombe Co., and other 
parts of the State. 

Cullasaga. A fine apple cultivated in Habersham Co., Ga, 
and various other parts. 

Carthoiise or Romanite. (Gilpin, Coxe.) A handsome 
cider fruit from Virginia, medium, round, striped, sub-acid 
and agreeable ; tree an early and heavy bearer, very valuable 
on account of its keeping qualities ; a very hardy, fruitful, 
vigorous tree ; fruit juicy, rich; late in Spring. 

Wine Sap. (Already described) Popular everywhere, and 
generally cultivated ; useful for all purposes ; every orchard 
should have a large proportion. 

Roxbury Russet. Medium to large, surface rough, green- 
ish, covered with russet, tree vigorous and great bearer, valu- 
able for its long keeping : December to May. When fully 
ripe, slightly acid and very pleasant, excellent for cooking. 
A moderate grower and great bearer ; is adapted to moist, 
strong, rich soil. 

White Winter Pearmain. (Already described) Highly 
esteemed at the West and Southwest. 

Pilot. Origin, Nelson Co., Va., very valuable new variety, 
keeps well and late. (Already described.) 

Pryor's Red. A native of Virginia ; large, flat, brownish 
yellow, little russet, tinged with red ; flesh fine, rather tender, 
sweetish, sub-acid, dryish, of a rich agreeable, and peculiar fla- 
vor. Elliott says well adapted to rich alluvial soils of the 
West ; very salable in New Orleans ; December to February. 

Rawles Genet. Medium, round, greenish, streaked and 
clouded with dull red. It is a regular and heavy bearer, 
flesh compact, crisp, juicy and vinous, keeps well, succeeds 
well in all portions of Virginia, and puts forth its leaves and 
blossoms much later than other varieties 

Hubbardston Nonesuch, is, perhaps, the most beautiful 
apple that grows, and in this instance, "outward beauty is an 



166 ORCHARDS. 

index of inward good," being a very early Winter apple, it 
is suitable tor early market. Fine, large, roundish, oblong, 
much narrower near the eye, skin smooth, striped with splashes 
and irregular stripes of pale and bright red, which nearly 
cover ayelloAvish ground ; flesh yellow, juicy and tender, with 
an agreeable mingling of sweetness and acidity in its flavor ; 
October to January. 

Northern Spy. Large, conical, flattened, striped and quite 
covered on the sunny side with dark crimson, and deli- 
cately covered with bloom ; both leaf and blossoms open from 
one to two weeks later than most other sorts, which renders 
it a valuable variety for frosty situations. February to April. 

Nickajack. An apple of Southern reputation, fruit large, 
roundish, skin striped and splashed with crimson ; flesh yellow, 
tender, crisp, juicy, with a fine, rich, sub-acid flavor; Novem- 
ber to April. 

Esopus Spitzenberg. Size medium to large ; form round- 
ish, oblong conical, flesh yellow, a little tough until fully ripe, 
when it becomes breaking, crisp, abounding in a very high 
flavored aromatic juice; forms an orchard tree of large size, 
requires a strong soil; December to March. 

Fallawater or Tulpeliocken. (Already described) This 
magnificent and delicious apple is largely cultivated in the 
West and Southwest, and is a favorite in the Valley of Virginia. 

King of Tompkin's County. Large, yellowish, shaded 
with red, splashed with crimson, tender, with a rich, vinous 
flavor ; a popular apple at the North, and does well in the 
Valley of Virginia, West Virginia and Western States. This 
superb red apple is of the largest size and finest quality, tree 
a good grower and bearer, very hardy ; November to March. 

Ladies Sweet. Large, roundish, green and red, nearly 
quite red in the sun ; sweet, sprightly and perfumed, shoots 
tender, but erect, a great bearer ; originated in Newburg, 
New York. One of the best Winter sweet apples ; Novem- 
ber to May. 

Lady Apple, Pomme D'Api. .A beautiful little dessert fruit ; 
flat, pale yellow, with a brilliant red cheek ; flesh crisp, juicy and 
pleasant. The tree forms a dense erect head, and bears large 



ORCHARDS. 167 

crops of fruit in clusters ; the fruit sells for the highest price 
in New York, London and Paris ; November to May. 

Abram, or Father Abram. A Southern variety, medium 
striped with red, flesh rather firm with an agreeable aromatic 
flavor ; a great bearer and keeps well until April or May. 
• Ben Davis, or Kentucky Red Streak. Large, handsome 
striped apple of excellent quality, tree very hardy, vigorous 
and productive ; a late keeper, highly esteemed in the West 
and Southwest. 

Sivaar. Large, pale lemon yellow, with dark dots, 
rich and spicy, slender grower and moderate bearer, but ex- 
cellent quality, worthy of general culture ; December to 
May. Flesh, yellowish, fine grained, tender, high aromatic 
flavor, excellent. 

Limbertwig. An old and well known Southern apple ; 
medium size, dull red color, sub-acid, moderately vigorous 
grower, bears heavily on strong soils ; rich, soft, pulpy, aro- 
matic and excellent, late in the Spring ; fine keeper ; Febru- 
ary to late in June. 

Milam. (Already described). This is a splendid apple 
in the Piedmont district of Virginia. Suitable for general 
cultivation. 

Winter Pearmain. (Coxe.) Green Winter Pearmain ; 
Pearmain Herefordshire. (Thompson.) This delicious old 
variety, generally known in Virginia as the Green Winter 
Pearmain, is one of the finest of all winter dessert fruits, and 
its mild and agreeable flavor renders it here, as abroad, a 
universal favorite, both as a dessert apple and for cooking. 
Fruit of medium size, oblong and of a pretty regular Pear- 
main shape ; skin stained, and mottled with a soft, brownish 
red on a dull, russety green ground, dotted with greyish specks ; 
flesh pale yellow, very mellow and tender, with a pleasant aro- 
matic flavor ; produces large crops on light, rich soils as well 
as on the limestone soils of the West. 

Yellow Bellefleur. (Already described.) For general cul- 
tivation ; early Winter. 

Winter Sweet Paradise. This is a very productive and 
excellent orchard fruit, always fair, and of fine appearance, 



168 ORCHARDS. 

originated near Columbia, Pennsylvania. Fruit large, regu- 
larly formed, roundish, skin fair and smooth, dull green when 
picked, with a brownish blush, becoming a little paler at ma- 
turity. Flesh white, fine grained, juicy, sweet, sprightly and 
very good ; Nov. to April. 

Monstrous Pippin, Grloria Mundi. (Coxe, Floy, Thomp.) 
This magnificently large apple, says Downing, is a native 
fruit, and we have frequently seen it weighing nearly a pound 
and a half, and measuring 14 inches in circumference. It is 
an excellent cooking apple, and, when in perfection, of a fair 
quality for eating ; owing to its great weight it blows from the 
tree. It would be best to grow it in protected situations. 
Flesh white, tender, with a pleasant acid flavor ; October to 
January. 

Albemarle Pippin. The first commercial apple in America, 
and generally raised for European markets. (This fruit has 
already been described). 

Peck's Pleasant. Large, roundish, angular ; skin smooth, 
green, becoming yellow, with a blush on the sunny side ; re- 
sembles the Newtown Pippin ; flesh yellowish, fine grained, 
crisp and juicy, high flavored;. a valuable market variety;. 
December to March. 

Male Carle. " This is the most celebrated of all apples in 
Italy and the South of Europe, whence it comes. It is raised 
in great quantities about Genoa, and its great beauty and 
delicacy of flavor render it quite an article of commerce in 
Italian and Spanish seaports.'' All South of New York it 
becomes beautiful and fine, but cannot be grown in New Eng- 
land, " Fruit medium size, medicinal, common apple shape, 
smooth, lemon color, crimson in the sun ; flesh white, not 
juicy, of a delicate rose perfumed flavor." This apple is well 
adapted to the Southern region of our country, and comes to 
high perfection in the Valley of Virginia. In season from Oc- 
tober to January. 

Danver's Winter Sweet. Medium size, greenish yellow, 
with often a brownish cheek, tender, rich and sweet. Tree 
moderately vigorous and productive ; November to March. 

Twenty- Ounce Apple, Cayuga Red Streak. A very large, 



ORCHARDS. 169 

showy apple, well known in Cayuga, county, N. Y. It is a very 
good, sprightly fruit, not very highly flavored, but its remark- 
ably handsome appearance and large size render it one of the 
most popular fruits in market. The tree is thrifty, bears 
regular crops and the fruit is always fair and handsome ; flesh 
not very fine, juicy, sprightly, with a pleasant sub-acid flavor. 

Chandler, Chandler's Red. Large, roundish, pale yellow 
ground, mostly red ; stalk short, in a wide cavity ; calyx small 
in a wide basin ; flesh tender, juicy, rather rich, pleasant sub- 
acid ; moderate grower and great bearer ; November to Feb- 
ruary. 

D ut oh Mignonne. Large, roundish, dull orange and dull 
red, large russet specks ; flesh rather tender, of a rich, high 
aromatic flavor ; good grower and bears well. Delicious in 
the middle region, including Virginia and Southwestern States, 
but little known at the North ; November to March. 

* Mason Pippin. Origin, Brunswick county, Va. A very 
superior new variety, almost equal to the Albemarle Pippin. 
(This splendid apple has already been described.) December 
to April. 

* Stonewall. Origin, Lunenburg county, Va. Medium to 
large, greenish yellow, streaked with red, flavor mild and 
pleasant; rather mealy; a good keeper, and bearer and an 
excellent new variety ; December to April. 

* Red Everlasting. Origin, Charlotte county, Virginia ; 
medium to small, beautiful crimson color ; oblong, very juicy 
and- sweet. Raised by Thomas Baldwin, Esq.; January to 
June. 

* Hick's White. Origin, Loudoun county, Va. A beau- 
tiful, conical-shaped white apple, with cheek slightly tinged 
with red ; flesh pure white, mellow and rich ; one of the best. 
This is an Autumn apple, extending into winter ; December. 

* Atkins' . Origin, Powhatan county, Va. Medium to 
large ; round ; skin fine, red ; flesh pale yellow ; flavor sub- 

Note. — Varieties marked thus * are new fruits, which, together with 
other new kinds, are grown and for sale by the Virginia Nursery and 
Wine Company, Richmond, Va.,. and at the Richmond Nurseries. 



170 • ORCHARDS. 

acid and rich. This fine new apple is raised by Geo. B. 
Atkins, Esq.; December to May. 

Sweet Genet. Origin, Indiana. This new variety is one 
from a lot of seedlings from Rawles Gfenet, which has the 
late-blooming character of its parent in a high degree ; 
being at least a week later in extending its blossoms, it always 
escapes the spring frost, and the original tree has never failed 
to produce a crop since it was large enough to bear. Tree 
healthy, vigorous, spreading, productive, with fruit well dis- 
tributed, shoots stout, foliage rich, green, abundant ; fruit 
large, fair, covered with red, flavor sweet ; season December 
to March. 

NEW VARIETIES. 

* Starke Apple. The Starke apple is a new variety now 
attracting attention in the West. Mr. A. H. Gaston, of 
Henry, Marshall county, Illinois, thinks it "the very best 
apple in America." The Starke is described in the Horticul- 
tural Annual for 1869, with a drawing. 

*The Sylvester Apple. At the State Fair held in Roches- 
ter in 1868, we saw an apple which was remarkable for its • 
beauty, and when its originator, Dr. E.'Ware Sylvester, of 
Lyons, N. Y., gave us a specimen to taste, we found that its 
quality kept the promise made by its exterior. Again, this 
year, we have been able to try other specimens of the variety, 
and considering it as deserving a wider popularity than it now 
enjoys, have had it engraved. The tree is said to be vigorous 
and an abundant bearer. The skin is white and of a most 
delicate waxy appearance, which is heightened by the beauti- 
ful markings of crimson that are found upon the specimens, 
which have been well exposed to the sun. The flesh is white 
and very tender and juicy ; indeed, upon cutting, the juice 
follows the knife as it does with a well-ripened pear ; flavor, 
a pleasant sub-acid. Excellent for cooking. Sept. and Oct. 
Dr. Sylvester should feel gratified at having his name at- 
tached to so good a fruit. — American Agriculturist, 1870, 
Jan. No. 

* Tyler s Rennet. This delightful apple was discovered in 



ORCHARDS. 171 

an old seedling orchard at Pleasant Valley, Albemarle co., Va. 
Description.— Fruit, medium size, roundish, skin very ten- 
der, yellowish white, sometimes a blush ; surface smooth, 
flesh white, very tender, crisp, juicy, with a brisk, spicy aro- 
matic flavor ; sweetish, slightly acid, very fine ; tree rather 
large, irregular, great bearer ; matui es early in August ; use, 
eating or dessert and cooking. 

OTHER NEW VARIETIES. 

*07iio Nonpareil, (or Myers' Nonpareil. This is a noble 
fruit ; its early history is involved iu some obscurity. In the 
fourteenth report of the Ohio Pomological Society, 1868, the 
following account is given : " Our fellow-member, S. B. 
Marshall of Missillon, Ohio, obtained scions from Wm. Myers, 
of New Lisbon, about 1840. since which time he has propaga- 
ted, distributed and planted the trees, and exhibited the fruit 
upon various occasions, and to him we are indebted for having 
introduced this fine Autum or early Winter fruit to our no- 
tice. From Mr. Myers he learned that a tree of this variety 
had fruited for eighteen or twenty years in his orchard ; from 
its excellence he had supposed it to be a grafted fruit, but as 
the party from whom he had purchased the property had left 
the country, he had never ascertained whence the trees were 
procured. 

This fine apple has been in bearing for nearly twenty 
years, and is now coming into fruit in many other places, 
where it promises to sustain its high reputation. 

Tree healthy, vigorous, robust, wide branching ; foliage large, 
healthy ; fruit large, fair and handsome, globular, oblate, 
regular, surface smooth, yellow, covered with mixed and min- 
gled bright red, and stripes and plashes of deeper color, dots 
minute ; flesh yellow, breaking, fine grained, juicy ; flavor 
mild, sub-acid, rich, very agreeable, use, table, kitchen 
and market, season October to December. Both fruit and 
tree closely resemble the Cogswell, a Connecticut apple ; suit- 
able for general cultivation. This valuable apple has already 
been described. 

Stark Apple. Tree vigorous and healthy, fruit globular, 



172 ORCHARDS. 

regular, large, surface smooth, yellow, covered generally, mix. 
ed red, splashed, crimson, dots numerous, medium dark ; 
flesh, yellow, breaking juicy, flavor sub-acid, agreeable, quality 
good, use, market and kitchen ; season December and all the 
Winter. (Description by Dr. Warder.) 

The following is a partial list of apples recommended by 
Prof. Saunders of the " Department of Agriculture," at a 
meeting of the Potomac Fruit Growers Association" in July 
1871, at Washington City. 

Nickajack, Matamuskeet, 

Abram, Hall's Early, 
Albemarle Pippin, Golden Wilding, 

Winesap, Pryor's Eed, 

Cullasaga, Cannon Pearmain, 

Limbertwig, Smith's Cider, 

Milam, Borum, 

Shockley, Brook's Pippin. 

WOODMAN'S LIST FOR STANFORD KENTUCKY. 

APPLES. 

Summer. Autumn. Winter. 

Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Ben Davis, 

Early Joe, . Fall Queen, Rawles' Genet. 

Carolina Red June. Yellow Bellefleur. Rome Beauty. 



Limbertwig. 



OTHER VARIETIES. 



Monte Bello. (Description by Mr. Downing.) This 
splendid new apple was raised from seed on the place of 
Mathew Gray, at Riverside, in Monte Bello Township, Han- 
cock Co., Illinois. It is there considered an apple of great 
promise, the tree being hardy, moderately vigorous and 
healthy ; an early and annual bearer, and the fruit always 
fair and smooth ; fruit above medium, oblate, regular ; skin, 
pale yellow, shaded and mottled with light red, and splashed 
and striped with dark rich red, nearly over the whole surface, 
and sprinkled with a few light dots ; stalk very short, and 
small, inserted in a broad cavity, russeted, calyx closed, or 



ORCHARDS. 173 

nearly so ; flesh very white, fine grained, a little stained next 
to the skin, very tender, juicy, mild, sub-acid, vinous flavor, 
quality very good or best, core medium or small; ripens from 
September tc^December. 

*Mote Siveet. Produced from the seeds of the Stillwater 
Sweet. Origin, Ohio. " Tree vigorous, with around, spread- 
ing top, thus differing from its parent ; foliage large, wide, 
finely serrate, and rather pale green ; fruit large and fair ; 
globular, oblate, surface very smooth, greenish yellow, becom- 
ing whitish yellow, rarely a light blush ; dots scattered, gray, 
often becoming rosy spots ; flesh light yellow, very fine 
grained, melting, juicy, flavor very sweet, pleasant ; season 
September ; use table and kitchen ; quality best. This is one 
of the most delicate, tender, sweet apples ever exhibited; is 
a new variety; very highly recommended. 

*Celestia. "From another seed of the Stillwater Sweet. 
This is considered one of the most remarkable apples of the 
country. Resembling the famous Dyer in its general appear- 
ance, texture, and peculiar flavor, it excels that sort in the 
perfection of all these good qualities, and is especially prefer- 
able in its much more attractive appearance, and more perfect 
fruit. The original tree is thrifty, with an upright, spreading 
head ; shoots, light redish brown ; foliage, medium, very 
finely serrated, sharply accuminate." Fruit large to very 
large ; fair, conical, globular, somewhat angular ; surface 
smooth, pale yellow ; dots scattered gray, with green bases ; 
tender, juicy, sub-acid ; season, September. 

*Powers. This beautiful, showy and delicate table apple 
was found in a village garden in the town of Perrysburg, 
Ohio, and introduced to the Ohio Pomological Society by Mr. 
George Powers. Fruit large to very l^rge, fair and hand- 
some, globular-oblate, regular ; surface smooth, red, with dis- 
tinct splashes of carmine on a delicate, waxy, yellow ground; 
flavor very mild sub-acid, pleasantly aromatic or spicy, agreea- 
ble ; season, October, November ; use table ; quality, excel- 
lent." 

SUMMER VARIETIES. 

In addition to and among others named in this work, the 



174 ORCHARDS. 

following varieties are recommended by experienced fruit 
growers, in the States of North and South Carolina, Georgia, 
Alabama, Mississippi, &c, most of Northern apples failing in 
keeping qualities. * 

Berry. Large, green, with red stripes ; Winter* 

Blackshear. Very large, white ; Winter. 

Buckingham. Large, crimson ; Autumn. 

Carter. Large, yellow ; Winter. 

Chestattee. Large, yellow ; Winter. 

Cullasaga. Large, red ; Winter. 

Dahlonega. Large ; Autumn. 

Disharoon. Large, yellow; Autumn. 

Bucket. Winter. 

Equinitely. Large, red, fine quality ; late Fall and Winter. 

Hominy. Medium size, red ; Summer ; identical with Sops 
of Wine. 

Julian. Medium size, yellow ; summer. 

Maverick Sweet. Large, red, sweet ; Winter. 

Mangum. Medium size; Autumn. 

Me Cloud's Family. Summer. 

Nickajack. Very large, dull red ; Winter. 

Bed Wamir. Very large, red; Winter; very long keeper. 

Bed Fall Pippin. Large, dark red ; Autumn. 

-{Shockley. Medium size, yellow and red ; a long keeper 

* Nearly all Winter apples commence to be in eating condition in the 
latitude of Athens, Georgia, in October, and if carefully put away, in a 
cool, airy room, free from severe frost, much the larger can be kept 
through the Winter, and some varieties keep well through the Spring. 
Apples may be preserved at a temperature just above freezing for many 
months without the least decay. At a temperature of 80° the best of 
Winter apples in tight barrels, will spoil in a few days. 

f This splendid new apple, ("so highly colored they look like pic- 
tures") originated with Mr. Shockley, of Jackson county, North Caro- 
lina. Its popularity is unbounded in that region. The editor of the 
Carolina Farmer and Weekly Star says : "We have no personal ac- 
quaintance with the Shockley apple, but the specimens we have are yet 
in perfect preservation this, 6th day of August, and are only a little 
shrivelled, but of a color so intense that they look to be almost too arti- 
ficial. Mr. W. H. Thurmond, whose reputation as a horticulturist makes 
him first rate authority, tells us that he has known two Shockleys which 
were preserved two years." 

Any number of Shockleys can be had at the "Gate City Nursery" 
whose advertisement is standing in the Plantation, a valuable journal 
published at Atlanta, Georgia. 



ORCHARDS. 175 

and great bearer ; one of the most valuable of Southern Win- 
ter apples. 

Wall. Large, fine ; Winter. 

Yopp's Favorite. Large, fine quality ; Autumn. 

North 'Carolina Red June. Not the Virginia long ste"m, 
nor the striped June of some localities ; conical, crimson, 
short stem, stands first among Southern early apples ; market 
fruit. 

Early Harvest. Perhaps the next best; fine for market. 

Red Astrakhan. Highly recommended ; all uses. 

Early Sweet Bough, Red Margaret, Early Joe, Bucking- 
ham, Large Summer Queen, Summer Rose, May Apple; all 
fine.* 

MISSOURI APPLES. 

List of Apples adopted at the Ninth Annual Meeting of the 
Missouri State Horticultural Society, January 1868, and 
Recommended by the Society. 

Summer, for market. Early Harvest, Red June, Red As- 
trachan, Sops of Wine. 

For Family. Same, adding Benoni, Sweet June, Ameri- 
can Summer, Pearmain, Early Strawberry,' Summer Queen. 

Fall, for market. Maiden's Blush, Rambo, Hubbardston, 
Nonesuch, Famuese, Ramsdell Sweet. 

Early Winter. Wine, or Pennsylvania Red Streak, Smith's 
Cider,, Porter, Fall Queen, Prior's Red, Rome Beauty, Moore's 
Sweet. 

For family. Yellow Bellefleur, Peck's Pleasant, Rhode 
Island Greening, American Golden Russet, Jonathan, New- 
town Pippin, Spitzenburg, Wagener, Fallawater. 

Late Winter, for market. Rawles' Genet, Newtown Pip- 
pin, (on limestone soils,) Willow Twig, Wine Sap, Gilpin Ben 
Davis, Ladies' Sweet, White Winter Pearmain. 

For Cider. Wine Sap, Gilpin, Rawles' Genet. 

Advice. — We deem it not inappropriate, at this place, 
again to warn farmers and those who intend going into fruit- 

* The last ten varieties are highly recommended for Middle North 
Carolina, by Col. J. B. Zollicoffer, who is an experienced orchardist. 



176 ORCHARDS. 

culture, to look well to the selection of varieties. " On any 
account do not cumber your land and waste your labor, and 
deprive yourself of good fruit, as many have done, in plant- 
ing a great number of miscellaneous varieties, with high- 
sounding names that will neither give profit nor pleasure; but 
confine your planting to a few ivell known kinds, that have 
established a reputation for their excellence in your vicinity 
or section of country." You need not discard all Northern 
or foreign kinds, as many of them do well in different sections 
of the South and West, and may do well with you ; yet it is 
much safer, in our judgment, to plant, as before said, kinds 
that are known to succeed well in your section, and if for 
market, the earliest should always be selected in the more 
Southern districts, and for all places, a few of the very best 
is better for profit, however large the orchard, than a con- 
fused number of those that are uncertain or medium, as it re- 
gards the requisites desirable in good, profitable fruit. In 
these opinions Col. Zollicoffer, of North Carolina, concurs 
with me. 



ORCHARDS. 



177 



APPLE REPORT. 

Abstract of a Report of the Comparative Flavor, Thrifty Growth, Reg- 
ular Bearing, Early Bearing, Hardiness, and Productiveness of Or- 
chard in Hannibal County, and another in Cameron County, Missouri. 
The first by 0. H. Lear, and the second by John C. McCarthy. Por- 
tions of each selected and arranged as follows : 

Table — Scale of Ten. 



No. 10. the best, 
poorest. 



No. 7, medium, No. 1, 



SUMMER APPLES. 

American Summer Pearmain 

Benoni 

Prince's Yellow Harvest 

Sweet June 

Red June 

Summer Queen 

AUTUMN APPLES. 

Fall Wine 

Fall Queen, or Turner's Queen 

Porter 

Rambo 

Gravenstein 

King of Tompkins County 

Maiden's Blush 

WINTER APPLES. 

Ortley, or "White Bellefleur, always in de- 
mand 

Rawles' Genet, standard 

Wine Sap, standard 

White Winter Pearmain, very saleable 

Yellow Bellefleur, fine, when you get it.. 

Smith's Cider 

Fallawater 

Ben Davis 

Northern Spy 

Pryor'sRed 

Baldwin 

Dominie 





K 


rd 


bC 


bi) 


o 
> 

03 


o> 

3 


•so 


.2 




tR 


W 


H 


W 


tf 


10 


9 


4 


9 


4 


8 


10 


8 


5 




7 


9 


7 


5 


5 


10 


10 


10 


10 


10 


6 


9 


7 


8 


10 


8 


10 


10 


4 


4 


10 


9 


8 


10 




9 


8 


8 


10 


5 


10 


8 


8 


5 


8 


10 


4 


10 


9 




9 


10 


8 


6 




8 


10 


9 


6 




10 


10 


10 


8 


7 


9 


10 


9 


7 


8 


7 


10 


6 


7 


7 


9 


10 


8 


8 


10 


10 


10 


8 


5 


6 


10 


10 


8 


7 


8 


7 


10 


10 


7 


8 


6 


6 


10 


10 




6 


10 


8 


10 




10 


10 


10 


3 


5 


10 


9 


6 


2 


4 


9 


5 


8 


5 


5 


8 


10 


10 


10 





10 

10 



10 
10 
10 
10 

2 

10 

10 
3 



10 



13 



178 



ORCHARDS. 



VARIETIES CULTIVATED AS DWARFS IN 
MIDDLE REGIONS OF THE SOUTH. 



THE 



Buncombe, 
Earl j Harvest. 
Family, 
Nickajack, 
Sweet Bough, 
Yopps Favorite, 



Carter's Blue, 

Early Red Margaret, 

Kettageska, 

Red Astrachan, 

Shockley, 

Transcendant, 



Disharoon, 
Equinetelee, 
Mangum, 
Red June, 
Taunton, 
Siberian Crabs. 



TABLE OF DISTANCES AT WHICH TREES SHOULD 
BE PLANTED. 

Standard Apple Trees - - - 25 to 33 feet apart each way. 

Dwarf " " - - - 8 to 10 

Standard Pear Trees - - - 20 

Dwarf " " - , - 6 to- 10 

Standard Cherry - - - - 20 

Dwarf Cherry - - - - 10 

Peach, Plum and Apricot Trees, 12 to 20 

Currants, Gooseberries, and Raspberries, 3 to 6 feet apart 

each way. 
Grape Vines ------ 5 to 8 feet apart each way. 



At 



NUMBER OF TREES TO AN ACRE AT VARIOUS 
DISTANCES. 

3 feet apart each way 

4 " 



4,840 

2,729 

. 1,742 

1,200 

........ 680 

430 

325 

200 

....... 135 

110 

70 

50 

....... 40 

The number of plants required for an acre, at any given 
distance apart, may be ascertained by dividing the number of 



" 5 


u 


" 6 


a 


" 8 


u 


" 10 


u 


" 12 


a 


S 15 


a 


" 18 


a 


" 20 


u 


" 25 


u 


" 30 


ti 


" 33 


a 



ORCHARDS. 179 

square feet in an acre, (43,560) by the number of square feet 
given to each plant, which is obtained by multiplying the dis- 
tance between rows by the distance between the plants or trees. 
Thus strawberries planted three feet by one foot, give each 
plant' three square feet or 14,520 plants to the acre. 

QUALITIES OF APPLES. 

Qualities desirable in varieties of Apples for different 

purposes. 

For a good and salable apple for market, we would recoir- 
mend a combination of the following requisites : 

A thrifty grower, good bearer, fruit large, handsome and of 
excellent quality : a red apple is the most salable. Some, 
though not first rate, are profitable for the market as they sell 
from their superior size and beauty, although the quality may 
be only tolerable. 

For the private garden or small orchard, quality is of the 
first importance ; yet appearance, growth and bearing are 
also important considerations. 

With the amateur, quality is the main thing, and appear- 
ance next ; while growth and bearing are of less regard. 

A dessert apple should be of good size, handsome, and of a 
fine rich flavor. 

Cooking apples should be rather large, fair, and of an 
even surface, qualities various for different purposes. The 
cooking, of apples destroys much of their acidity. Some 
brisk acid apples, that are poor for the dessert, are excellent 
for the kitchen. Some apples will not cook well, but retain 
tbeir form and remain hard after this process. These should 
be discarded. Some cook quickly and form a jelly, which is 
desirable for some purposes, but not for others. 

The best sweet apples for milk, are those th?t bake per- 
fectly soft, yet retain their form. Those that fall to pieces 
from their own weight in cooking and mix up with the milk 
are not good. 



180 ORCHARDS. 

GATHERING, PRESERVING AND MANAGEMENT OF 

APPLES. 

The art of keeping or preserving fruit, is simply the pre- 
vention of the chemical processes which produce their dis- 
solution ; as life, whether animal or vegetable, prevents 
putrefaction. Many fruits exist long after they are gathered 
from the tree, before they become matured and ripe, and die 
spontaneously, and, in consequence putrefy, as crabs, sloes, 
pears, apples, &c. The art of preserving them consists in 
storing them, where the heat is neither much above or below 
48 degrees, which is the temperature of the interior parts of 
the earth ; that is in a dry cellar, or beneath the soil ; or well- 
covered with straw leaves, or mats in a room. As greater 
heat might make them ripen sooner than they are wanted, by 
the increased activity of their vegetable life; and frost by 
destroying that life, would subject them to putrefy, when they 
become thawed; as often happens to apples and potatoes, 
which are not well defended from frost — and lastly the moisture 
would injure them in many respects ; first, by its contributing 
to destroy their vegetable life ; secondly, in promoting the chem- 
ical process of putrefaction ; and thirdly, by its encouraging 
the growth of mucor or moulcl, which will grow in most situ- 
ations without much light or air. 

Great cold, on the contrary, destroys both animals and 
vegetables by the torpor occasioned by the defect of stimulus, 
and a consequent temporary death. Afterwards, if a great 
degree of cold be continued, in some cases, the expansion of 
their freezing juices may burst the vegetable vessels, and thus 
render the life of them irrecoverable. It is affirmed by 
Mons. Reaumeur, that if frozen apples be dipped in cold 
water repeatedly, and the ice thus formed on their surface 
wiped off, or if they be left in a large pailfull of very cold 
water, so that they may not thaw too hastily, they will not 
loose their flavor. It this be true, and the apples will keep 
sound some time afterwards, it would seem that vegetable life 
was not destroyed ; but that, like sleeping insects, they are 
re-animated by the warmth ; otherwise, if the flavor be not de- 



ORCHARDS. 181 

stroyedand they could be immediately eaten, or used in cookery, 
it is still a valuable discovery. It is at least a simple plan and 
easily tested. A correspondent from Indiana says : " The apple 
or potato that has been frozen, decays in consequence of sud- 
den thawing, but if they are put, in a frozen state, into cold 
water until the frost is expelled, and then are used, they will 
be nearly if not quite as good as if they had not been frozen. 
The same writer remarks, " that to keep apples from Au- 
tumn to June, they should be placed in a shallow hole, dug 
as if for potatoes ; the bottom is first covered with corn stalks 
or straw, (leaves would be best) and then straw with dirt, five 
or six inches more. No shelter is to be placed over them. 
When the severe weather commences, and the ground, and 
perhaps the apples, are thoroughly frozen, place straw over 
the frozen heap, and cover the wdiole again with a coating of 
earth 10 or 12 inches thick. The object of this is to keep 
the first coating of earth frozen, until Spring, and then to 
cause it to thaw very slowly" Any vegetables may be pre- 
served in this way, but we think it would sometimes be found 
that apples treated in this manner would acquire a somewhat 
unpleasant earthy flavor ; and, besides, they would immedi- 
ately decay on exposure to the air. 

APPLE CELLAR OR FRUITERY. 

Where apples are to be preserved for domestic purposes, or 
for the later markets, throughout the Winter, and in quantities, 
a cellar expressly for this purpose should be dug ; unless the 
farmer has a very dry one already prepared. This cellar 
should be made on a hill if possible, or rising ground sloping 
to the North, with openings or windows facing the North, 
to admit the air in fine weather, and that should be attended 
to. It should be dug in*dry, gravelly or sandy soil. It should 
be walled with stone, brick, or wood, and of any convenient 
depth to secure dryness, for that is the most important con- 
sideration, save that of freezing. The height of the body of the 
house may be 4 or 5 feet above ground and covered and planked 
up similar to an ice house. The barrels should be placed 
on tiers, on their sides, and the cellar kept as dark as possible. 



182 ORCHAKDS. 

In such a cellar apple growers may safely and securely keep 
any quantity of apples, in the best order, provided they are 
put away at the proper time, and in good condition. The 
expense of * constructing, such a house would be but trifling, 
even less than that of an ice house ; unless it is built very 
large, and at a place where materials are scarce. -■»■■ 

All apples to be kept through the Winter, should be gath- 
ered by hand, aided by the "fruit picker," mentioned in an- 
other part of this work. The ground immediately under the 
trees should be covered with straw, or any soft litter, whilst 
gathering, as the best fruit is apt to fall. The same should 
be done when the apples are intended for cider, as bruised 
apples will not keep or make good cider. The gathering of 
the Winter fruit should be delayed as long as possible to 
secure fine flavor, but it will keep longer and better, if gath- 
ered before quite ripe ; but there is a difference in this res- 
pect in different varieties of apples. In the climate of Vir- 
ginia, from the middle of October to the middle or even last 
of November, on mountain sides, and high mountain valleys is 
the proper time. After that time there is danger from frost or 
freezing. Those who have a good, cool dry cellar had much 
better put away their apples as gathered, if late in the season. 
As a general thing in the absence of a thermometer, when 
the ice is made half an inch thick, the barrels should be re- 
moved very carefully, from the shed to the cellar or fruitery. 
It is generally admitted " that the nearer the fruit is kept 
to the freezing point the better. It will not generally 
freeze unless the temperature is 5 to 7 degrees below 32, or 
the freezing of water." Apples headed up will bear frost 10 
or 12 degrees below the freezing point. 

We would say farther in regard to gathering or picking 
apples to keep, that, as a general rule, in order to secure 
soundness and a good condition ; Winter fruit should be 
picked in dry, cool weather, the gathering delayed as long 
as possible, avoiding severe frost. It should be handled with 
care in order to prevent bruising, and should not be allowed 
to lie in heaps exposed to the sun, or even stand in barrels ex- 
posed to the sun, as such course is injurious to the life and 
keeping qualities of the apples. 



ORCHARDS. 183 

Apples for distant or foreign markets should be placed in 
new, tight flour barrels as soon as gathered from the tree — 
the finer sorts may be wrapt in tissue paper. The barrels 
should be gently shaken while filling, and the head gently 
and closely pressed in ; lined and nailed with 3-penny nails. 
(For further directions as to packing, see Mr. D. H. 
London's valuable communication. These barrels are then 
placed in a cool shady exposure, under a shed open 
to the air, or on the north side of a building, protected by 
a covering of boards. It is usual for them to remain here 
for a week or two, or until there is danger of freezing, when 
they are carefully removed to the cellar or fruitery. 

Note. — In some large, airy, packing houses, at the foot of the Blue 
Ridge in Virginia, the barrels are placed on tiers on their sides, as they 
are filled from the heaps or orchards. The temperature during cold 
spells is regulated by the thermometer, stoves being used so as to secure 
a temperature not exceeding 32 degrees. In this way, the fruit is always 
ready for shippiDg, and is taken from the houses in cold weather to Rail 
Roads for immediate transportation. 

"Instructions for gathering, barreling, 
shipping, &c. 

The following very important, valuable and practicable 
directions for gathering, barreling, and shipping apples, are 
from a New York Commission Merchant, (No. 63, Broadway) 
formerly a resident of Richmond, Va. A part of the busi- 
ness of his house is to ship large quantities of fruit to 
England and European countries. 

No. 63 Broadway, New York, Sept. 1, 1870. 

As the season is near in which your fruit growers must 
gather and prepare their pippins and ladies' apples for mar- 
ket, and deeming the matter of so much importance, I beg 
leave to bring to their attention the following instructions 
which I have gained by several seasons of experience in the 
sale and handling of Albemarle Pippins and Ladies' apples. 

First — Gather the pippins before they are fully ripe, by 
picking the fruit and carefully handling it and leaving it in 
an open house till it sweats and dries off. On Southern ex- 



184 ORCHARDS. 

posures the pippin is usually ripe enough 1st October, on the 
Northern exposures by the middle of October ; but the soil 
varies their ripening, and the grower must judge of the con- 
dition of the apples by their appearance. 

Second — A new barrel only ought to be used, and after 
taking out the bottom, not the head — tack the lower middle 
hoop on each side of the bulge of the barrel with three-penny 
nails, (no larger size nails) clinch inside so that the inside of 
the barrel is perfectly smooth ; put the head of the barrel to 
the floor. Carefully select the perfect apples, wipe each one 
and place them with the stems down, seeing that the apples 
are uniform in size and appearance ; when by placing with the 
hand the apples layer after layer till the barrel is a little 
more than full, gently press in the bottom head and headline, 
across the heading, using the three-penny nails, and then tack 
the top hoop with not over 5 to 6 three-penny nails, turn up 
the head and do the same. Mark the owner s initials and num- 
ber of barrel, say No. 1 and up, so that when the fruit reaches 
me it can be known. I have had much trouble from this 
omission. 

Third — Ship to the care of the Old Dominion S. S. Co v 
Richmond, with instructions to the Chesapeake and Ohio 
Railroad Company, or whatever line may carry the fruit to 
Richmond, to forward to me the blil of lading. Ship in 
round lots of 100 barrels or more, as large uniform lots sell 
at better prices than small and irregular lots. 

Fourth — Do not ship to this market any defective fruit, 
nor any mixed fruit, and upon no account put large, fine fruit 
on the head and poor small fruit in the middle of the barrels ; 
one such barrel will defeat the sale of a thousand barrels. In 
plain words, be certain that you pack your fruit honestly. 

Fifth — handle the ladies' apples quite as carefully as you 
do the pippins, observing this fact that it is the small sized 
Red Ladies' apples, which bring the highest prices ; with the 
pippin it is the large clear-skinned fruit, which command the 
best price. 

Sixth — Wine-saps, if very carefully handled and the fruit 
be of the same size, will generally sell at from $4 to $6 in 



ORCHARDS. 185 

small quantities, whilst the pippins have brought from $6 to 
$9, and some as high as $16. Ladies' apples from $10 to $30. 
My wish has been to get the shipment of most of the Albe- 
marle pippins and Ladies' apples which are sent here, for I 
well know the advantage to the owners Avhich will result by 
having one known house to control this fruit — it is known to 
me that the quality and flavor is highly valued throughout 
Great Britain, the chief drawback being the order in which 
it is shipped, and this has been seriously injured by indiffer- 
ent and unprincipled parties getting hold of small quantities 
of Virginia pippins and sending them to Liverpool in bad 
order. Sincerely and honestly wishing to see this large and 
growing interest faithfully guarded here, 1 have written this 
letter for your Virginia fruit growers, and feel quite certain 
that if the instructions are carefully followed, the shippers to 
this market will not regret it; the Ladies' apple is now grown 
in your section better than it is in any other section, and I 
know of no fruit equal to a really No. 1 Albemarle pippin. 
With consideration and esteem, 

I am, very respectfully, 

Dan'l H. London. 

Note. — Although the above advice is intended for a particular section 
of the country, yet its value, in most respects, will be appreciated in all 
apple regions. 

HOW TO CUT AND PRESERVE SCIONS. 

As every farmer should be able to graft and bud his trees, 
it is of importance to select, judiciously, the scions for this 
purpose, and to know how to preserve them when selected. 
It is best to select and cut the well ripened and thrifty 
shoots — those that grow about the middle of the tree from 
upright vigorous limbs. The growth of some valuable 
trees is so limited that the growth of one year is too short, 
and in that case a little of the wood of the preceding year's 
growth is taken with the graft. 

Scions may be cut at any time from the falling of the 
leaves to the swelling of the buds. We think it best, how- 
ever, to cut them before very cold weather sets in, as they 



186 ORCHARDS. 

may be injured during very cold winters. Some nurserymen 
prefer to cut only a few weeks before setting and just before 
tbe swelling of the buds, as they say the scion will in that 
case more readily absorb moisture from the stock, which pro- 
motes the union. Scions may be cut in October and Novem- 
ber, and kept in a perfect state for one year. When scions 
are cut in the fall or winter, the best mode of saving them is 
to bury them from four to six inches deep in a light soil, 
where the water will not stand on them. Sandy yellow soil 
is best, or sand alone. The situation should be covered or 
shgded, and they should be kept moist, but not wet. Saw- 
dust will keep them very well, and as it is easily obtained 
will be found very convenient. Where there are many scions 
and they will not be needed through the winter, they may be 
placed in a box, which is to be only half or two-thirds full ; 
cross pieces are fastened upon the inside in such a manner as 
to prevent the scions from falling out when inverted. The 
box is then buried, upside down, in a place where water will 
not como in contact with the scions. In putting away grafts 
we cannot be too careful to prevent their losing their iden- 
tity. Tie securely in bundles, and with each tie up a stick' 
marked in such a manner as not to be obliterated. Some 
take the precaution to cut away a portion of one or two of 
the larger scions, in order to obtain flat surface on which nu- 
merals are cut with a knife. A permanent record is of 
course kept of the varieties indicated by these numbers. 

When bog-moss can be found, it is an excellent material 
with which to pack the scions in a box. 

When scions are cut in the Winter or Spring, or even in 
the Fall, they may be packed in a tight box or chest, first 
putting in some damp moss or saw dust. It does not matter 
how many are packed together, the more scions the better 
they keep. Mould will not injure them. As the weather 
becomes warm, moisten the saw dust or moss and the inside of 
the box occasionally. Keep the top. on tightly, and place 
them in a damp, cool cellar. Too much moisture would be in- 
jurious, as it induces premature starting of the buds or kills 
the scions by saturation. Saw dust, a little moist, is consid- 



ORCHARDS. 187 

ered about one of the best materials for the preservation of 
scions ; they should be closely imbedded in it, and, when 
taken out, they will be found plump and in fine order. Scions 
that are intended for immediate use may be cut at the time of 
setting, but care should be taken that they do not shrivel — 
they should not be exposed to the sun or air, or the warmth 
of the hands ; put them in as soon as possible after cutting. 

If scions should become frozen, let them thaw closely cov- 
ered, and in a dark cellar. 

BABBITS, MEADOW MICE, AND OTHER BARK 
EATERS. 

The mischief done by these depredators is generally irre- 
parable. A friend of ours, last Winter, lost the larger portion 
of a fine orchard of the famous Pilot and Albemarle Pippin 
apples, set the previous Spring. They were literally skinned 
by the rabbits from the ground to the height of twelve or 
fifteen inches. 

To prevent such girdling and barking of young trees there 
are various simple remedies : 

1st. In Europe soot and milk applied as a paint to the stems 
as far up as the animals can reach. It should be done at the 
approach of Winter, on a dry day. 

2. Coal tar, made at gas works, is an infallible remedy. It 
may be had at a few cents per gallon. As Winter sets in, 
apply a coat of this with a brush (painter's brush is best), laid 
on the lower part of the trunk from the ground to the height 
of one and a half or two feet. This will do no injury to the 
bark, while it completely, for that season, prevents the attacks. 
of rabbits, mice, and all bark devourers. In England the 
gardeners use this composition as a protection of any small 
shrubs and trees liable to be girdled. If the rains do not take 
off this and similar coats by the Spring, soap-suds, applied 
with a coarse rag, will effect the purpose, and otherwise ben- 
efit the trees. 

3. Trees may be saved by tying around them laths, shin- 
gles, old barrel staves, narrow boards, strips of paste-board, 
stiff paper, old cloth, &c. 



188 ORCHARDS. 

4. Offensive substances, such as tobacco stems or rubbish, 
sulphur, assafoetida, hen or pigeon dung, mixed with mud or 
clay, and- applied. 

5. Beef or hog liver, when fresh, rubbed on the stems as 
high as the rabbits can reach. Fat beef or tallow may be 
used. The liver is best. 

6. Dr. McCannel, of Ohio {in the American Agriculturist), 
finds that a mixture of assafoetida and soft soap painted on 
the bark of young trees will effectually preserve them from 
the attacks of rabbits and meadow mice. He does not give 
the proportions, or the form in which the assafoetida is used. 

LABELS FOR FRUIT TREES. 

No orchardist should trust to his memory, but should 
promptly label his trees, distinctly and durably. It is per- 
plexing and vexatious to lose marks, and, to nurserymen, 
would occasion serious losses, and place them in awkward pre- 
dicaments with their patrons and customers. 

1. Zinc is a good material when written on with a compo- 
sition of two parts fine verdigris, two sal-ammoniac, one lamp- 
black, twenty water. Mix in a mortar, with- a little water at 
first — shake and bottle for use. It will appear very legibly, 
and is quite durable; or with types — small pica or long primer 
will answer — with a lever, stamp the name or number on the 
zinc. 

2. Wood painted with white lead; use soft, smooth, thin 
pieces. If not painted, moisten the wood, and write with a 
good strong pencil, with a heavy hand. 

3. Old oxydized or rusted- zinc will receive and retain the 
mark of a common lead pencil. 

4. On old tin or new, or sheet lead, write with a sharp awl 
or steel instrument, cutting through the coat of tin; use sheet 
lead the same way, or stamp the name or number with type 
and lever. 

5. Wood printed is the best for nurserymen. Let the pieces 
be smoothly prepared and thinly painted with white lead. Use 
a lever for a press ; it is more distinct and expeditious than 



ORCHARDS. 189 

writing. Four or five of the letters of each name are enough, 
and numbers are quickly printed. 

6. Labels made of strips of old tea chest lead, old tin, zinc, or 
sheet lead, cut wide at one end for marking, the other drawn to 
a point and bent round a limb. The point may be run through 
a hole in the label and clinched. 

7. For the use of the farmer, old tin, &c, may be used, and 
the letters or figures made with a sharp pointed awl or punch, 
by shaping them with little dots or holes. This is very simple 
and durable. Fastenings — Stout twine will last a year. Nos. 
20 to 23 annealed copper wire is far the most durable and 
best fastening; but see it does not cut the limb. 

"A tree label that will not require too much trouble to 
make it, and that will remain legible for a series of years, has 
long been a desideratum among fruit-growers. It may be 
that this is supplied by the simple zinc label written with a 
common black-lead pencil. Several gentlemen inform us that 
they have had labels of this kind remain legible for ten or 
more years, and that though the writing makes but little show 
when recently done, in time it becomes more distinct. We 
suppose that the surface of the zinc just under the writing is 
protected by the black-lead or plumbago of the pencil, and 
that while the rest of the surface is oxidized by the action of 
the weather this remains intact ; or it may be that the carbon — 
the best black-lead is nearly pure carbon — unites in some way 
with the zinc. The only objection we see to these labels is 
the ease with which they may be effaced when the writing is 
fresh, but a few weeks' exposure fixes it. The zinc is cut in 
the form of an elongated triangle, the point of which, when 
wrapped around a twig, will hold the label, and at the same 
time expand as the tree increases in size. Mr. 0. D. Case 
sends us a specimen of the labels he has found to be most ser- 
viceable. He uses a tag of zinc, upon which he marks a 
number, and then with an awl punches holes through the zinc, 
following the outline of the number, as in the figure ; the 
roughness raised by the punching is filed off. A number of 
this kind has the advantage that it can be buried in the ground 
with cuttings and scions without risk of being obliterated, but 



190 



ORCHARDS. 



it of course requires that a record of the numbers and the 
names they represent should be carefully kept." — American 
Agriculturist. 

INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE TREE AND 
ITS FRUIT. 

The apple trees of Virginia, and the South generally, as 
far as the author's knowledge extends, are not infested with 
insects to any serious extent; but the same cannot be said of 
the fruit, although, comparatively speaking, our losses in this 
regard are but small when compared with those of the North. 
There, and to some extent throughout the West, they have 
vast armies of insect enemies to contend with, which at the 
present day make successful fruit growing, in those parts, a 
more difficult and scientific pursuit than here. 

If the farmers in this country knew more of entomology, 
or were better acquainted with the nature and habits of insects 
(bugs as some term them) that are injurious to vegetation, it 
would be the means of saving many thousands of dollars to 
productive industry, and much to themselves individually; 
for most persons can form no idea of the extent of damage 
done to orchards by these little depredators. 

We think we cannot give a better or more recent account 
of these destructive insects than can be found in the " Re- 
port" of the Missouri State Entomologist for the year 
1868-69, as they are in perfect accordance with our own 
views on this subject and should be widely disseminated 
throughout all the fruit growing regions of our country : 






C 



ORCHARDS. 191 

Apple Borers. — " The apple-tree borer was entirely un- 
known until Thomas Say described it in the year 1824 ; and, ac- 
cording to Dr. Fitch, it was not till the year following that its 
destructive character became known in the vicinity of Albany, 
N. Y., for the first time. Yet it is a native American insect, 
and has for ages inhabited our indigenous crabs, from "which 
trees my friend, Mr. A. Boiler, took numerous specimens in 
the vicinity of Chicago, ten years ago. It also attacks the 
Quince, Mountain Ash, Hawthorn, Pear, and Juneberry. Few 
persons are aware to what an alarming extent this insect is 
infesting the orchards in St. Louis, Jefferson, and adjacent 
counties, and for aught I know, throughout the State. A tree 
becomes unhealthy, and eventually dwindles and dies, without 
the owner having the least suspicion of the true cause — the gnaw- 
ing worm within. Even in the orchard of the most worthy Pres- 
ident of our State Horticultural Society, I found one or more 
large worms at the base of almost every tree that I examined, 
notwithstanding he had been of the opinion that there was not 
a borer of this kind on his place. 

"At the above figure this borer is represented in its three stages 
of larva (a), pupa (b), and perfect beetle (c). The beetle may 
be known by the popular name of the Two-striped Saperda, 
while its larva is best known by the name of the Round-headed 
apple tree borer, in contra-distinction to the Flat-headed 
species, which will be presently treated of. 

"The average length of the larva, when full grown, is 
about one inch, and the width of the first segment is not quite 
one fourth of an inch. Its color is light yellow, with a tawny 
yellow spot of a more horny consistency on the first segment, 
which, under a lens, is found to be formed of a mass of light 
brown spots. The head is chestnut brown, polished and horny, 
and the jaws are deep black. The pupa is of rather lighter 
color than the larva, and has transverse rows of minute teeth 
on the back, and a few at the extremity of the body ; and the 
perfect beetle has two longitudinal white stripes between three 
of a light cinnamon brown color. The Two-striped Saperda 
makes its appearance in the beetle state during the months of 
May and June, and is seldom seen by any but the entomologist — 



192 ORCHARDS." 

who makes a point of hunting for it — from the fact that it re- 
mains quietly hidden by day and flies and moves only by 
night. The female deposits her eggs during the month of 
June, and mostly at the foot of the tree, and the young worms 
hatch and commence boring into the bark within a fortnight 
afterwards. These young worms differ in no essential from 
the full grown specimens, except in their very minute size; 
and they invariably live for the first year of their lives on the 
sap-wood and inner bark, excavating shallow, flat cavities 
which are found stuffed full of their sawdust-like castings. 
The hole by which the newly hatched worm penetrated is so 
very minute that it frequently fills up, though not till a few 
grains of castings have fallen from it; but the presence of the 
worms may be generally detected, especially in young trees, 
from the bark under which they lie becoming darkened, and 
sufficiently dry and dead to contract and form cracks. Through 
these cracks some of the castings of the worm generally pro- 
trude and fall to the ground in a little heap, and this occurs 
more especially in the Spring of the year, with the rising sap and 
frequent rains, such castings becoming swollen and augmented 
in bulk. Some authors have supposed that the worm makes 
these holes to push out its own excrement, and that it is forced 
to do this to make room for itself; but, though it may some- 
times gnaw a hole for this purpose, such an instance has. never 
come to my knowledge, and that it is necessary to the life of 
the worm is simply a delusion, for there are hundreds of bo- 
ring insects which never have recourse to such a procedure, and 
this one is frequently found below the ground, where it can 
not possibly thus get rid of its castings. It is currently sup- 
posed that this borer penetrates into the heart of the wood of 
the tree after the first year of its existence, whereas the Flat- 
headed species is supposed to remain for the most part under 
the bark ; but I find that on these points no rules can be given, 
for the Flat-headed species also frequently penetrates into the 
solid heart wood, while the species under consideration is fre- 
quently found in a full grown state just under the inner bark, 
or in the sap-wood. The usual course of its life, however, 
runs as follows : 



ORCHARDS. 193 

"As Winter approaches, the young borer descends as near 
the ground as its burrow will allow, and doubtless remains in- 
active till the following Spring. On approach of the second 
Winter it is about one half grown, and still living on the sap- 
wood; and it is at this time that these borers do the most 
damage, for where there are four or five in a single tree they 
almost completely girdle it. In the course of the next Sum- 
mer, when it has become about three-fourths grown, it gener- 
ally commences to cut a cylindrical passage upward into the 
solid wood, and before having finished its larval growth, it in- 
variably extends this passage right to the bark, sometimes 
cutting entirely through a tree to the opposite side from which 
it commenced ; sometimes turning back at different angles. It 
then stuffs the upper end of the passage with sawdust-like 
powder, and the lower part with curly fibres of wood, after 
which it rests from its labors. It thus finishes its gnawning 
work during the commencement of the third Winter, but re- 
mains motionless in the larval state till the following Spring, 
when it casts off its skin once more and becomes a pupa. 
After resting three weeks in the pupa state it becomes a 
beetle, with all its members and parts at first soft and weak. 
These gradually harden, and in a fortnight more it cuts its 
way through its sawdust-like castings, and issues from the tree 
through a perfectly smooth, round hole. Thus it is in the 
tree a few days less than three years, and not nearly two 
years as Dr. Fitch suggests. I have come to this conclusion 
from having frequently found, during the past Summer, 
worms of three distinct sizes in the same orchard, and Mr. 
D. B. Weir, of Lacon, Illinois, had previously published the 
fact,* while a correspondent to the Country .Gentleman, of 
Albany, N. Y.,f who says he has large experience with this 
borer, sent to the editors specimens of all three sizes, which 
he calls 'this year's, two and three old worms.' The individ- 
ual from which I drew my figures, and which was taken from 
a crab apple tree, went into the pupa state on the 14th day 

* Prairie Farmer, Chicago, April 20, 1867. 
f Country Gentleman, September 12th, 1867. 

14 



194 ORCHARDS. 

of March, and became a beetle on the 15th of April; but was 
doubtless forced into rapid development by being kept through- 
out the Winter in a warm room. 

"Remedies. — From this brief sketch of our Round-headed 
borer, it becomes apparent that plugging the hole to keep him 
in, is in a par with locking the stable door to keep the horse 
in after he is stolen ; even supposing there were any philos- 
ophy in the, plugging system, which there is not. The round, 
smooth holes are an infallible indication that the borer has 
left, while the plugging up of any other holes or cracks where 
the castings are seen, will not affect the intruder. This insect 
probably had some natural enemies belonging to its own great 
class, and some of our wood-peckers seek it out from its re- 
treat and devour it; but its enemies are certainly not suffi- 
ciently under our control, and to grow healthy apple trees, we 
have to fight it artificially. Here, again, prevention will be 
be found better than cure, and a stitch in time will not only 
save nine, but fully ninety-nine. 

" Experiments have amply proved that alkaline washes are 
repulsive to this insect, and that the female beetle will not lay 
her eggs on trees protected by such washes. Keep the base 
of every tree in the orchard free from weeds and trash, and 
apply soap to them during the month of May, and they will 
not likely be troubled with borers." (This is repulsive to 
almost all insects, and greatly benefits the tree in other re- 
spects.) " For this purpose soft soap or common bar soap can 
be used. The last is, perhaps, the most convenient, and the 
newer and softer it is the better. This borer confines himself 
almost entirely to the butt of the tree, though very rarely it 
may be found in the crotch. It is therefore only necessary, 
in soaping, to rub over the lower part of the trunk and the 
crotch ; but it is a very good plan to lay a chunk of the soap 
in the principal crotch, so that it may be washed down by the 
rains. In case these precautions have been unheeded, and 
the borer is already at work, many of them may be killed by 
cutting through the bark at the upper end of their burrows, 
and gradually pouring hot Water into the cuts so that it will 
soak through the castings and penetrate to the insect. But 



ORCHARDS. 195 

even where the soap preventive is used in the month of May 
it- is always advisable to examine the trees in the Fall, at 
which time the young worms that hatched through the Sum- 
mer may be generally detected, and easily cut out without in- 
jury to the tree. Particular attention should also be paid to 
any tree that has been injured or sun-scalded, as such trees 
are most liable to be attacked. Mr, Wier who has had con- 
siderable experience with this insect, thus describes his method 
of doing this work, in the article already alluded to : 

"I will suppose I have a young orchard of any number of 
trees, say a thousand, the second season after planting, about 
the last of July or during the first half of August, with a 
common hoe, I take all the weeds and other trash, and about 
an inch of soil, from the crown of the trees ; then, any time 
from the first to the middle of September, with a pocket- 
knife, examine carefully the stem of each tree ; the borer can 
readily be found by the pefuse thrown out of the hole made 
on entering — this refuse of a borer, of the same season's 
growth, will be about the size of a pea, and being of a glutin- 
ous nature, sticks around the mouth of the hole, and can 
readily be seen ; older ones throw out coarser chips that fall 
to the ground. (As already shown, these chips are not thrown 
out by the borer, but are forced out by the swelling.) When 
he is found, take the knife and cut him out. If an orchard 
is carefully examined in this way each year, there need be but 
very few, if any, borers missed ; and, as they are more easily 
found the second Fall of their growth, and can have done but 
little damage up to that time, we could never receive any 
serious injury from them. Now, it is no great task to do 
this ; a man will clear the litter and soil from around a thou- 
sand trees in a day, and take the borers out in another day. 
I will agree to do both jobs carefully in one day's time. A 
great undertaking, is it not?" 

He also has observed that some Varieties of the apple tree 
have a greater immunity from the attacks of this borer than 
have others ; on account of the young larva, when it is first 
hatched, being drowned out by the sap, but he does not men- 
tion any particular varieties other than those that are the 
"more vigorous and late growing." 



196 



ORCHARDS. 



THE FLAT-HEADED APPLE TREE BORER. 

Chrysobothris femorata, Fabr. 
[Coleoptera, Buprestidas.] 



[Fig. 15.] 



[Fig. 16.] 





This borer, which is repre- 
sented in the larva state at 
figure 15, may at once be re- 
cognized by its anterior end 
being enormously enlarged and 
flattened. It is paler than the 
preceding, and makes an en- 
tirely different burrow. In consequence of 
its immensely broad and flattened head, it bores a hole of an 
oval shape and twice as wide as high. It never acquires much 
more than half the size of the . other species, and is almost 
always found with its tail curled completely round towards 
the head. It lives but one year in the tree and produces the 
beetle, represented at figure 16, which is of a greenish black 
color, with brassy lines and spots above, the under side ap- 
pearing like burnished copper. This beetle flies by day in- 
stead of by night, and may often be found on different trees 
basking in the sunshine. It attacks not only the apple, but 
the soft maple, oak and peach, and is said to attack a variety 
of other forest trees ; though, since the larva of the family 
(Buprestid^e) to which it belongs all bear a striking resem- 
blance to each other, it is possible that this particular species 
has been accused of more than it deserves. 

It is, however, but far too common in the Valley of the 
Mississippi, and along the Iron Mountain and Pacific rail- 
road it is even more common than the preceding species. Mr. 
G. Pauls, of Eureka, informs me that it has killed fifty trees 
for him, and Mr. Cataw, and many others in that neighbor- 
hood have suffered from it in like manner. 

" Remedies. — Dr. Fieth found that this borer was attacked 
by the larva of some parasitic fly, belonging probably to the 
Chalcis family, but it is greatly to be feared that this parasite 
is as yet unknown in the West. At all events, this flat-headed 
fellow is far more common with us than with our Eastern 



ORCHARDS. 



197 



brethren. As this beetle makes its appearance during the 
months of May and June, and as the eggs deposited on the 
trunk of the tree, as with the preceding species, the same 
method of cutting them out or scalding them can be applied 
in the one case as in the other; while as the soap preventive 
is found to be equally effectual with this species as with the 
other. It must, however, be applied more generally over the 
tree, as they attack all parts of the trunk, and even the larger 
limbs. 

THE CODLING MOTH OR APPLE WORM. 



( Corpocapsa pomonella — Linn.) 

" The apple worm I find to be quite common all over the 
State, as it is in almost all parts of the civilized world where 
apples are grown. Dr. Trimble has devoted page after page 
to the consideration of this little pest, and yet its whole 
history, and the means of preventing its insidious work, may 
be given in a very few lines. It was originally a denisen of 
the Old World, but was introduced into this country about the 
beginning of the present century. The following figure rep- 
resents it in all its states, and gives, at a glance, its natural 
history : a represents a section of an apple which has been 
attacked by the worm, showing the burro wings and channel 

of exit to the left ; b, the 
point at which the young 
worm entered; e, full 
grown worm ; h, its head 
and first segment magni- 
fied ; i, the cocoon which 
it spins; d, the chrysalis 
to which it changes; /, 
the moth which escapes 
from the chrysalis, as it 
appears when at rest ; g, 
the same with wings ex- 
panded. The worm when 
young is whitish, with 




198. ORCHARDS. 

usually an entirely black head, and a black shield on the 
top of the first segment. When full grown it acquires 
a flesh-colored or pinkish tint, especially on the back; and 
the head and top of the first segment become more brown, 
being usually marked as at figure 24, h. It is sparsely cov- 
ered with very minute hairs which take their rise from minute 
elevated points, of which there are eight on each segment. 
The cocoon is invariably of a pure white on the inside, but is 
disguised on the outside by being covered with minute frag- 
ments of whatever substance the worm spins to. The chrys- 
alis is yellowish brown, with rows of minute teeth on its back,, 
by the aid of which it is enabled to partly push itself out of 
its cocoon, when its time to issue as a moth arrives. The moth 
is a most beautiful object; yet, as has been well remarked by 
an anonymous writer,* frcm its habits not being known, it is 
seldom seen in this state, and the apple grower, as a rule, 
'knows no more than the man in the moon to what cause he 
is indebted for the basketfuls of worm-eaten windfalls in the 
stillest weather.' Its fore wings are marked with alternate, 
irregular, transverse, wavy streaks of ash-gray and brown, 
and have on the inner hind angle a large tawny brown spot, 
with streaks of bright bronze color or gold. 

The apple is, so to speak, our democratic fruit, and while 
stone fruit is grown but in certain regions, this is cultivated 
all over the country. The Codling moth is, then, even more 
injurious than the Curculio. Unlike the Curculio, it is mostly 
two-brooded, the second brood of worms hybernating in the 
larval state, enclosed in their snug little silken houses, and 
ensconced under some fragment of bark or other shelter. The 
same temperature which causes our apple trees to burst their 
beauteous blossoms, releases the Codling moth from its pupal 
tomb, and though, its wings are at first damp with the imprint 
of the great stereotyping establishment of the Almighty, 
they soon dry and expand under the genial Spring-day sun, 
and enable each to seek its companion. The moths soon pair, 
and the female flits from blossom to blossom, deftly depositing 

* Entomological Magazine, London, Vol. I, p. 1, 144. 



ORCHARDS. 199 

in the calyx of each a tiny yellow egg. As the fruit matures, 
the worm develops. In thirty- three days, under favorable 
circumstances, it has become full-fed; when, leaving the apple, 
it spins up in some crevice, changes to a chrysalis in three 
days, and issues two weeks afterwards as a moth, ready to 
deposit again, though not always in the favorite calyx this 
time, as I have found the young worm frequently entering 
from the side of the apple. Thus the young brood of Codling 
moths appear at the same time as the young curculios, the 
difference being that instead of living on in the Fall and 
Winter, as do the latter, they deposit their eggs and die, it 
being the progeny from these eggs which continues the race 
the ensuing year. Though two apples, side by side, may, the 
one be maturing a Curculio, the other a Codling moth, the larva 
of the latter can always be distinguished from the former by 
having six horny legs near the head, eight fleshy legs in the 
middle of the body, and two at the caudal extremity, while 
the curculio larva has not the first trace of either. 

In latitude 38° the moths make their appearance about the 
first of May, and the first worms begin to leave the apples 
from the 5th to the 10th of June, and become moths again 
by the fore part of July. While some of the first worms are 
leaving the apples, others are but just hatched from later de- 
posited eggs, and thus the two broods run into each other ; 
but the second brood of worms (the progeny of the moths 
which hatched out after the first of July) invariably passes 
the Winter in the worm or larval state, either within the ap- 
ple after it is plucked, or within the cocoon. I have had 
them spin up as early as the latter part of August, and at 
different dates subsequently till the middle of November, and 
in every instance, whether they spun up early or late in the 
year, they remained in the larval state until the middle of 
April, when they all changed to chrysalides within a few days 
of each other. Furthermore, they not only remain in the 
larval state, but in many instances where I have had them in 
a warm room, they have been active throughout the Winter, 
and would always fasten up cuts made in their cocoons, even 
when the operation was performed five and six times on the 



200 ORCHARDS. 

same individual. These active worms perfect themselves in 
the Spring as well as those which had not been disturbed; 
and this fact would indicate that the torpid or dormant state, 
so called, is not essential to the well being or the prolongation 
of the life of some insects. 

Though the Codling moth prefers the apple to the pear, 
it nevertheless breeds freely in the latter fruit, and I have 
myself raised the moth from the pear-boring larva, and the 
fact was recorded many years' ago by the German entomolo- 
gist, Kollar. It also inhabits the fruit of the crab-apple and 
quince, and is not even confined to pip fruit, for Dr. T. C. 
Hilyard, of St. Louis, bred a specimen, now in my cabinet, 
from the sweetish pulp of a species of screw-bean which 
grows in pods, and which was obtained from the Rocky 
Mountains, while Mr. Wm. Saunders, of London, Ontario, 
Canada, has also found it attacking the plum in his vicinity.* 
This is entirely a new trait in the history of our Codling 
moth, and is another evidence of the manner in which certain 
individuals of a species may branch off from the old beaten 
track of their ancestors. This change of food sometimes 
produces a change in the insects themselves, and it would not 
be at all surprising if this plum-feeding sect of the codling 
moth should in time show variations from the normal pip-fruit 
feeding type. As Mr. Saunders is a well known entomolo- 
gist, it is riot likely that he has been mistaken in the identifi- 
cation of the species, for the only other worm of this charac- 
ter which is well known to attack the plum in America, is 
the larva of Mr. Walsh's plum moth (semasia prunivora), 
which is a very much smaller insect than the Codling moth. 
Mr. Saunders says that his plum crop suffered considerably 
from this cause, and that the operation appeared to be per- 
formed by the second brood, the plums falling much later 
than those stung by the curculio — remaining, in fact, on the 
tree till nearly ripe. I do not think that this insect has yet 
acquired an appetite for the plum in the States. As a gene- 



* Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts, of the Pro- 
vince of Ontario, for the year 1868. 



ORCHARDS. 201 

ral rule, there is but one worm in each apple, but two are 
sometimes found in one and the same fruit. 

Remedies. — Though with some varieties of the apple the 
fruit remains on the tree till after the worm has left it, yet 
by far the greater portion of the infested fruit falls prema- 
turely with the worm to the ground; hence much can be 
done towards diminishing the numbers of this little pest by 
picking up and destroying the fallen fruit as soon as it 
touches the ground. For this purpose hogs will again be 
found quite valuable, when circumstances will allow of their 
being turned into the orchard. Abundant testimony might 
be given to prove this, but I make room only for the follow- 
ing from Mr. Suel Foster, of Muscatine, Iowa, whom I know 
to be abundantly capable of forming a proper judgment: 

"I have twenty-four acres of my orchards seeded to clover, 
and last year I turned the hogs in. I now observe that 
where the hogs ran last year the apples have not one-fourth 
the worms that they have on other trees. I this year turned 
the hogs into my oldest (home) orchard.* 

"Mr. Huron Burt, o f Williamsburg, Mr. F. R. Allen, of 
Allenton, and Mr. Carnum, of Sulphur Springs, have also, 
each of them, testified to me as to the good effects obtained 
from allowing hogs to run on their orchards. 

"There is, however, a more infallible remedy, and one 
which is always practicable. It is that of entrapping the 
worms. This can be done by hanging an old cloth in the 
crotches of the tree, or by what is known as Dr. Trimble's 
hay-band system, which consists of twisting a hay-band twice 
or thrice around the trunk of the tree. To make this sys- 
tem perfectly effectual, I lay down the following rules : 

"1st. The hay-band should be placed around the tree by 
the first of June (in Missouri), and kept on till every apple 
is off the tree; 2d. It should be pushed up or down, and the 
worms and chrysalides crushed that are under it, every week, 
or at the very latest, every two weeks; 3d. The trunk of the 
tree should be kept free from old rough bark, so as to give the 
worms no other places of shelter ; and 4th, the ground itself 

* Transactions Illinois State Horticultural Society, 1867, page 213. 



202 ORCHARDS. 

should be kept clean from weeds and rubbish." (By follow- 
ing this advice the benefits of mulching must be lost. It 
were better, however, to lose this advantage than to have 
much premature and wrong fruit.) 

"But as already stated on a previous page, many of the 
worms of the second brood still remain in the apples even 
after they are gathered for market. These wormy apples 
are barreled up with the sound ones and stored away in the 
cellar or in the barn— from them the worms continue to issue, 
and they generally find plenty of convenient corners about the 
barrels in which to form their cocoons. Hundreds of these 
cocoons may sometimes be found around a single barrel, and 
it therefore becomes obvious that, no matter how thoroughly 
the hay-band had been carried during the Summer, there 
would yet remain a sufficiency in such situations to abun- 
dantly continue the species another year. And when we 
consider that every female moth which escapes in the Spring 
lays from two to three hundred eggs, and thus spoils so many 
apples, the practical importance of thoroughly examining, in 
the spring of the year, all barrels or other vessels in which 
apples have been stored becomes apparent. It should, there- 
fore, also be made a rule to destroy all the cocoons which are 
to be found on such barrels or vessels either by burning them 
up or by immersing them in scalding-hot water. 

"Now there is nothing in these rules but can be performed 
at little trouble and no expense. Their execution must hence- 
forth be considered a part of apple-growing. Let every apple- 
grower in Missouri (and throughout the country) carry them 
out strictly, and see that his neighbors do likewise, and fine, 
smooth, unblemished fruit will be your reward. 

"The philosophy of the hay-band system is simply that 
the worms, in quitting the fruit, whether while it is on the 
tree or on the ground, in their search for a cozy nook, in 
which to spin up, find the shelter given by the hay -band just 
the thing, and in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred they will 
accept the lure, if no other more enticing be in the way. I 
have thoroughly tested this remedy the past Summer, and have 
found it far more effectual than I had anticipated wherever 



ORCHARDS. 203 

the above rules were recognized. Under two hay-bands 
which were kept around a single old isolated tree through 
the months of June, July and August, I found every week of 
the two last months an average of fifty cocoons. 

"I have often smiled in my journeyings through the State 
to see the grin of incredulity spread over the face of some 
unsophisticated farmer as I recounted the natural history of 
this codling moth, and urged the application of the hay-band. 
Magic spell or fairy tale could not more thoroughly have 
astounded some of them than the unmasking of this tiny 
enemy and the revealing of the proper remedy. 

"The burning of fires has been recommended, under the 
supposition that the moths will fly into them and get de- 
stroyed. I have no faith whatever in the process, so far as 
it regards this particular species; for though it is true that 
the moths fly and deposit their eggs in the evening, I do not 
believe they are attracted to the light as are some others, for 
I have never been able thus to attract any myself." 

WEIR'S CODLING MOTH TRAP. 

The more modern and better remedy is "Weir's Trap," 
made of three narrow boards or old shingles, movable on a 
centre screw, and fastened to the trunk of the tree. The 
American Pomological Association, during its session at 
Richmond in 1871, appointed a committee composed of three 
members — Charles Downing, Mark Miller and P. T. Quinn. 
The committee reported that on examination Weir's Codling 
Moth Trap was found efficient in trapping this most destruc- 
tive insect. 

CLIMBING CUT WORMS. 

Orchardists in Spring frequently find the hearts of their 
fruit buds — on young trees especially — entirely eaten out and 
destroyed, and "this circumstance is attributed to various 
causes, winged insects, beetles or slugs, or even to late frosts, 
unsuitable climate, etc. Never have cut-worms received the 
blame, all of which should be ascribed to them, for the game 
hold of many on a sandy soil in early Spring is the fruit-tree, 



204 ORCHARDS. 

and especially the dwarf apple or pear. This is a very im- 
portant fact to fruit-raisers, whose orchards or gardens are 
infested by these stealthy, naked caterpillars, who do all their 
mischief under cover of night, which accounts for their never 
having been noticed in their work of destruction in former 
years. After having performed their nightly work, they de- 
scend and take quarters just under the surface of the ground 
near the foot of the tree. They seldom descend the tree as 
they ascend it, by crawling, and it is quite interesting to 
watch one at early morn when it has become full fed, and the 
tender skin seemed ready to burst from repletion, and see it 
prepare by a certain twist of the body for the fall. This fact 
also accounts for trees on hard, tenacious soil being compara- 
tively exempt from them, as their instinct doubtless serves 
them a good turn either in preventing them from ascending 
or by leading the parent moth to deposit her eggs by prefer- 
ence on a light soil. 

Mr. J. W. Cochran, of Calumet, Illinois, says: 
" They destroy low-branched fruit trees of all kinds, except 
the peach, feeding on the fruit buds first, the wood buds as a 
second choice, and preferring them to all other things, tender 
grape buds and shoots (to which they are also partial) not 
excepted — the miller always preferring to lay her eggs near 
the hill or mound over the roots of the trees in the orchard; 
and if, as is many times the case, the trees have a spring- 
dressing of lime or ashes with the view of preventing the 
May beetles' operations, this will be selected with unerring 
instinct by the miller, thus giving her larva a fine warm bed 
to cover themselves up in during the day from the observa- 
tions of their enemies. They will leave potatoes, peas and 
all other young green things for the buds of the apple and 
pear. The long naked young trees of the orchard are almost 
exempt from their voracious attacks, but I have found them 
about midnight, of a dark and damp night, well up in the 
limbs of these." 

Mr. John Townley, of Marquet county, Miss., in the 
Practical Entomologist, sa^s: "On a warm dewy night, 
about the middle of May, I took a lamp and, going into the 



ORCHARDS. 205 

orchard, suddenly jarred several of the trees, when some of 
these worms came tumbling to the ground. The evidence 
against them would have been more conclusive, if I had 
searched the branches and found them there and at work. That, 
however, I omitted to' do. I have had fruit trees planted 
here sixteen years, bu; never had the buds destroyed so as 
to attract my attention before the last two years. (When 
these cut worms have free and full pasture of herbaceous 
plants, it is believed they will not trouble themselves to mount 
the fruit trees, but in the absence of such food the buds of 
trees are appropriated with avidity.) The habit of the dwarf 
apple and pear, however, just suits their nature, and much of 
the complaint of those people who cannot make trees thrive 
on a sandy soil, has its source and foundation here, though 
apparently utterly unknown to the orchardist." 

Remedy. — "There is no known remedy; salt has no pro- 
perties repulsive to them — they burrow in it equally as quick 
as in lime or ashes. Tobacco, soap and other diluted washes 
do not even provoke them; but a tin tube six inches in length, 
opened on one side and closed around the base of the tree, 
fitting close and entering at the lower end an inch into the 
earth, is what the lawyers would term an effectual estoppel 
to farther proceedings." 

There is no complaint of this pest in Virginia, or, at least, 
in the hilly or mountainous regions of the State. If it ex- 
ists, to any extent, in the more level or sandy portions of the 
Atlantic States, we have not heard of it. 

THE BARK LICE OF THE APPLE TREE. 

(Homoptera Coccidte.) 

There are two spe- 
cies of bark lice that 
attack the apple tree 
in the United States, 
which I will briefly 
describe. 

The first, which is 
a native North American insect, is now known as Harris' 




206 ORCHARDS. 

bark louse (Aspidiotus JTarrisii, Walsh). The color of the 
scale is dirty white, and its form is irregular, being usually 
egg-shaped ; but however variable its outline, it is always 
quite flat, and causes the infested trees to wear the appear- 
ance of figure 1, while the minute eggs which are found un- 
der it in Winter time are invariably blood-red or lake-red. 
This species has scarcely ever been known to increase suffi- 
ciently to do material damage, for the reason doubtless that 
there have, hitherto, always been natural enemies and para- 
sites enough to keep it in due bounds. 

The second species, which is known as the oyster-shell 
bark louse (Aspidiotus conchiformis, Gmelin), is by no means 
harmless, however, for it is one of the most pernicious and 
destructive insects which the apple-grower in the Northern 
States has to contend with. This species presents the appear- 
ance of figure 2, and may always be distinguished from the 
former, by having a very uniform muscle-shaped scale of an 
ash-gray color (the identical color of the bark), and by these 
scales containing, in the Winter time, not red - , but pure white 
eggs. 

" There is scarcely an apple orchard in North Illinois, in 
Iowa, or in Wisconsin, that has not suffered more or less from 
its attacks, and many a one has been slowly bled to death by 
this tiny sap-sucker. It was introduced into the Eastern 

States more than twen- 
ty years ago from Eu- 
rope, and had already 
reached as far west as 
Wisconsin in 1840 from the districts bordering oh Lake 
Michigan. It occurs at the present time in Minnesota and 
Iowa, but whether or not it extends westward beyond the 
Missouri river, there are no data to show. 

"Remedies. — Small trees can be easily managed, as the 
terminal twigs can be reached and rubbed with strong soap 
water or syringed with the same. But alkaline washes will 
have little effect unless applied about the time the eggs are 
hatching, and the young lice are crawling over the limbs, 
which happens during the last of May or early in June. 




ORCHARDS. 207 

With regard to "washes, one pound of sal soda to one gallon of 
water will have a very good effect. Another remedy is to 
mix one part of soft soap "with four parts of water and a lit- 
tle fresh slacked lime Another — a solution of one pound of 
potash to two gallons of water, applied when the lice begin to 
crawl about the branches. A lye of wood ashes is also re- 
commended for the same purpose." 

We have never seen apple trees much injured by these in- 
sects, nor have we ever heard of their depredations to any 
extent in the South. 

THE CANKER WORM. 

(Anisopteria pometaria, of Harris.) 

In some parts of the country, especially at the North and 
on the seacoast, this insect is very destructive to the apple 
tree by destroying the blossoms and foliage, and even the very 
young and tender fruit. They are seldom troublesome in the 
Piedmont region of Virginia or in the corresponding portions 
of Maryland and North Carolina. They may be seen, how- 
ever, on the isolated limbs of some trees, the leaves of which 
are completely riddled and devoured by them, and, when so 
employed they may be easily destroyed by cutting off the 
twigs. The Dutch Elm, however, in our latitude suffers 
greatly by this depredator. They completely desolate the 
trees and render them as naked as at midwinter — not one 
tree or branch escapes them — and during the hottest part of 
the Summer these handsome trees are entirely useless as shade 
trees. A second crop of leaves, however, begin to appear 
about the 1st of September, and become about half grown 
before the early frost takes them. This second crop of leaves 
is not molested, it being too late for the operations of this 
insect. 

The Canker worm usually rises out of the ground very early 
in the Spring, chiefly in March, as soon as the ground is free 
from frost. The females having no wings, climb slowly up 
the' trunks of the trees, while the winged males hover about 



208 ORCHARDS. 

to pair with them. Very soon after this, if we examine the 
trees, we shall see the eggs, of which every female lays some 
sixty or a hundred, glued over, closely arranged in rows and 
placed in the forks and branches and among the young twigs. 
About the 20th of May and up to the 1st of June, these eggs 
are hatched and the canker worms, dusky brown, or ash- 
colored, with a yellow stripe, make their appearance and com- 
mence preying upon the foliage. When they are abundant 
they make rapid progress, and in places where the colony is 
firmly established, they will sometimes strip an orchard in a 
few days, making it appear as if a fire had passed over it. 
After feeding about four weeks, they descend into the ground 
three or four inches, where they remain in a chrysalis state to 
emerge again the next season. As the female is not provided 
with wings they do not spread very rapidly from one place to 
another; but when their food becomes scarce they travel in 
all directions, and to a considerable distance, frequently en- 
tering houses, as in case of the elm worms, making themselves 
very troublesome and pestilent. 

Remedies. — The common mode of protecting apple trees 
is to surround the trunk with a belt or bandage of canvass 
three or four inches wide which is then thickly smeared with 
tar. A little train oil is sometimes mixed with it to prevent 
it from becoming hard. The better plan to protect the trees 
from crawling insects of this nature is to provide each tree 
with a smooth piece of tin three or four inches wide, as has 
been recommended in the case of some other insects. These 
tin belts should fit well around the trunk and extend into the 
ground some two inches, if that is practicable, if not, the 
space between the lower end of tin and the tree should be 
kept perfectly tight with clay or lime and sand mortar. It is 
believed that trees thus treated will be securely protected from 
the ravages of this as well as other climbing insects. There 
are various other remedies for this destructive worm, but the 
above is deemed sufficient. Young trees, with smooth bark, 
if well soaped once or twice in Spring and Fall, are well pro- 
tected from all insects that crawl up the trunk of trees. 



ORCHARDS. 209 

AMERICAN TENT CATERPILLAR 

(Clisiocampa Americana.) 

This well known insect is so common that a description of 
it is unnecessary. It is simply called the eater-pillar of the 
orchards. Its habits and mode of operation are so well known 
that no descriptive account is worth a place here. Although 
a great pestilence in an apple orchard, they are more easily 
managed than any other insects injurious to the apple tree or 
its fruit. If, however, they are suffered to increase unmo- 
lested they become a formidable enemy. 

Remedies. — -Various simple modes have been found suffi- 
cient for the destruction of these greedy traveling fellows. 
On small trees they may be stripped off with the hand and 
crushed with the foot. For large trees, use a pole with a 
sponge attached to the end dipped in spirits of ammonia 
or kerosene, or use a pole with a brush or cloth attached 
to the end, and work it about in the nests, or twist them out 
with the end of the pole. They are always at home up to 
9 o'clock, and should be operated upon previous to that time. 

FRUIT DRYING HOUSE. 

The business of drying fruit for market is a very profitable 
one, and we wonder that so few people engage in it. It is 
also very desirable to provide a full supply for family use. 
With the improved apple-peelers and parers and peach-peelers, 
and a drying-house well arranged, it is light, nice work for 
the members of the family who cannot and are not expected 
to engage in out-door farm work — such can be employed to 
great advantage in iruit time, having the above mentioned 
facilities furnished them. 

Description of a Drying House used in the Valley of 
Virginia.—" The Dry house at Detrick's is of brick, one 
brick thick, on a stone foundation a foot high. The brick 
part is four feet ten inches high, seven feet one inch square 
from out to out, with a door in one side two feet three inches 
wide, and as high as the house will admit. In each end there 



210 ORCHARDS. 

are three rows of frames, with two openings each, large enough 
to admit drawers two feet nine inches wide and three inches 
deep, making six drawers at each end. These drawers are 
made with slats in the bottom an inch wide and one sixteenth 
of an inch apart. On the inside of the house there are three 
pieces of laths three inches wide by one inch thick, built into 
the wall on each end as far as the door will admit, so as to 
support the inner end of the drawers ; they are just opposite 
the lower edge of the frames that hold the drawers ; there are 
also strips that run from the frames to the laths to hold the 
drawer and guide it as it runs in. Each drawer has two knobs 
to draw it out with. The top frame that holds the drawer is 
two rows of brick from the top and there is one row of brick 
between the frames. On the top of the brick work is a frame 
and tight floor, and on the floor is built a brick chimney for 
stove-pipe. Over all is a good shingle roof put on as other 
houses (where slate is convenient it would be better), and the 
gables weatherboarded up. It has a good stove in the centre 
of the house." 

The above is a description of Mr. Detriek's house ; but it 
is probably better that the dry house be made of timber, and 
made larger, where there is much fruit. It has been found 
that the brick ones are rather damper than the wood, and do 
not dry fruit quite so well. Besides being larger, there should 
be more space between the drawers, so that the hot air can 
have free access. 

From what we know of dry houses we think the following 
simple and cheap house would be as good as the best : 

Take four posts 4 or 6 inches square, and plank them to- 
gether as if you were making a goods box, using dry inch 
plank and making the joints tight. We would make it 12 
feet by 10, and six feet high in front, and five behind — cover 
it tight by laying the plank close, and break the joints with 
narrow plank on top. Then bore holes in the sides of the 
house and put poles across to hold the dryers, which may be 
those commonly used to dry in the sun, making three or four 
tier of poles on each side of the stove. The door should be 
made in the high side and made tight. A house of this de- 



ORCHARDS. 211 

scription will cost but little, and any coarse carpenter can 
make it. 

FRUIT LADDERS. 

The farmer can generally have ladders very suitable for 
fruit gathering made at home, and unless he has facilities for 
purchasing from the manufacturer or his agents he had better 
do so. 

They are generally made of white or yellow pine, sound and 
well seasoned. They are sometimes made of hickory, in 
which case, in consequence of the stiffness and strength of the 
timber the side pieces may be comparatively small, and the 
ladders made very portable. The proper size of the timbers 
or scantlings used for this purpose varies according to the 
strength of the material used and the different lengths re- 
quired. For a 10 or 12 feet ladder, made of pine or poplar, 
3 or 3 Jx2 inches would be about right ; 6 or 8 feet ladders . 
less in proportion, and longer ones would require more strength. 
The proper distance of the rounds from each other should be 
eighteen inches; they should be made of well seasoned wood, 
tightly fitted into one inch holes, and no sharp edges should 
be left on any of the parts, as they would cut or bruise the 
tender bark of the branches of the trees. Folding ladders 
are very portable and convenient. 

Fruit ladders may be obtained at the agricultural ware- 
houses of H. M. Smith & Co., Allison & Addison, and at 
other establishments in Richmond, Va., and at various other 
places. Also, good apple peelers, and pavers and peelers, 
and peach peelers. 

FRUIT PICKERS. 

This useful implement may also be obtained at the agricul- 
tural establishment of H. M. Smith & Co., Richmond, and 
doubtless at other places in the South, as well as at the North. 
The author has no experience in the use of this labor-saving 
invention, but an eminent nurseryman and orchardist informs 
him that it is astonishing with what ease and rapidity fruits 
may be gathered when the operator has the advantage of a 



212 ORCHARDS. 

little practice. Every fruit grower should provide himself 
with one or more of these implements. 

MANUFACTURE OF CIDER. 

Cider, or Cyder, a sharp, cool, vinous beverage made by 
fermenting the juice of apples. Some connoisseurs in this 
liquor are of opinion, that the juice of the more delicate table 
fruit is generally more cordial and pleasant than that of the 
more harsh kinds ; though others assert the latter to be in 
many respects preferable. In Virginia, very fine cider is 
made late in the Fall, with common seedling apples of various 
qualities, from those most sour and harsh, to those that are 
sweet and tender. Good cider is also made during the Sum- 
mer from early seedling varieties. The best keeping cider, 
and that of the very best quality, is manufactured at the ap- 
proach of Winter from varieties recommended in this work 
for that purpose. 

There have been numerous receipts published to make cider, 
some of which have occasioned considerable losses. A few 
general, and important rules will be given, for insuring good 
cider, and afterwards some particular directions founded on 1 
experience. 

1st. The first and indispensable requisite for making good 
cider, is to choose perfectly ripe and sound fruit, carefully 
picked and free from trash, leaves and twigs. Farmers, in 
general, are very inattentive to these points, but it is utterly 
impossible to make good cider unless they are attended to. 

2d. The apples ought to be hand-picked, or there should be 
a mulching of straw or soft litter placed under the trees when 
they are shaken. When they fall on the ground they become 
bruised, and, as frequently happens, that they remain some 
time before pressing, the apples are apt to communicate a bad 
taste to the liquor from the bruised parts. 

3d After having sweated, and before being ground ? the 
apples should be wiped, in order to remove a clammy mois- 
ture which covers them, and which, if permitted to remain, 
would impoverish the cider. This is a little tedious, but it 
will pV?" well. 



ORCHARDS. 213 

4th. The practice of pressing the pomace in hair cloths is 
certainly much preferable to the common mode in this coun- 
try of enclosing it in bands of straw, or lining the press crib 
with it; because the straw, when heated in the mow or stack, 
gives the cider a bad taste. The improved cider mills and 
presses of the present day, however, do not require straw, but 
the pomace is thrown into the crib, the slats of which are 
placed so close as not to allow the pomace to escape with the 
cider. 

5th. After cider has run from the press it should be strained 
through hair or fine wire seives into a large open vat or hogs- 
head, which will contain a whole making, or as much as can 
be pressed in one day. When cider has remained in this vat 
or hogshead a day, or sometimes more or less, according to 
the ripeness of the fruit of which it has been made, and the 
state of the weather, the pomace or grosser parts of the pulp, 
will rise to the top, and in a few hours, or after a day or two 
at farthest, will grow very thick, and when little white bub- 
bles break through it, draw it off through a faucet hole within 
three inches of the bottom, that the lees may quietly remain 
behind. This operation is of great importance, as the sink- 
ing of the feculent matter would greatly injure the liquor. 

6th. On drawing off the cider from the vat, it must be put 
into clean casks and closely watched, to prevent the ferment- 
ation; when, therefore, white bubbles, as mentioned above, 
are perceived at the bung-hole, rack it again ; immediately 
after which it will probably not ferment until March, when 
it must be racked off as before — if possible, in clear weather. 

7th. It is of great consequence to prevent the escape of 
the carbonic acid, or fixed air, from cider, as on this principle 
all its briskness depends. To effect this, various expedients 
have been contrived. In the State of Connecticut, where 
much cider is made, it is a common practice to pour a tumbler 
of olive oil in the bung hole of every cask. Upon the same 
principle we have lately heard of a man who boasted that he 
had drunk brisk beer out of the same cask for five years; and 
that his secret was to cover the surface of the liquor with 
olive oil. Cider should be racked as seldom as possible, for 



214 ORCHARDS. 

a portion of its fixed air and briskness is lost in the opera- 
tion. 

To prevent a succeeding fermentation, put in a handful of 
powdered clay, and to preserve it, add one quart of apple 
brandy to each barrel; every cask must be filled up and 
closely bunged. 

8th. When care has been taken to prevent the precipitation 
of the feculent matter which rises in the cider, good liquor 
will generally fine without artificial means, but sometimes it 
is necessary to fine after the first racking. This may be done 
effectually in the following way: For a barrel, cut one ounce 
of isinglass fine, put it into a pint of water, stir it frequently, 
and make a thick jelly. Dilute this with cider, strain and 
mix it well with the liquor in the cask, by means of a long, 
clean stick. 

The best apples for cider are those that in growing were 
exposed to the sun and air, and young orchards generally 
produce the best cider. The Harrison, and some other fine 
cider apples make about one barrel to every ten bushels of 
sound apples. 

In all the operations of cider making, strict cleanliness and 
neatness should be observed, and no water should be used 
under any circumstances. The first and last running of the 
cheese is not so good as the middle. When pressed out, put in 
a cool, dry cellar before the vinous fermentation takes place — 
keep the barrels well filled up with the same liquor, reserved 
for that purpose, so that the froth and groser parts may work 
off. Then keep it as closely bunged as it will bear, without 
danger of bursting the cask, until it is necessary to rack off. 
If the casks are in a cool, airy cellar, the fermentation will 
cease in a day or two, and this state may be known by the 
liquor becoming clear and bright; by the cessation of the 
discharge of fixed air; and by the thick crust which has col- 
lected on the surface. When that is the case no bunging is 
necessary until after it is racked off, which must be done when- 
ever the cider is in the situation just described, to prevent the 
fermentation going too far. It may now be bunged up tight 
and allowed to stand until Spring; but first, to keep down 



ORCHARDS. 215 

any farther fermentation, put in about a gill of finely pow- 
dered charcoal to every barrel. 

If, upon examination, a scum collects on the surface, and 
the fermentation seems inclined to proceed farther, it must 
be immediately racked again. The vent spile may now be 
driven in tight; but examined occasionally. About the 1st 
of March a final racking should take place, and the dissolved 
isinglass, as has already been recommended, should be put in 
each cask, which will render it perfectly clear. It may be 
bottled now, or any time before the blossoming of the apple, 
or afterwards, even late in May. 

When bottling, fill the bottles within an inch of the bottom 
of the cork, and allow the bottles to stand an hour before the 
corks are driven in. They should then be sealed, and kept 
in a cool, dry cellar, with clean, dry sand up to their necks, 
or laid on their sides in boxes with sand between each layer. 

A friend directs the cider to be bottled in July ; to fill the 
bottles within two inches of the top, letting them stand twelve 
hours open before corking. Use strong porter bottles, and 
the best velvet corks. The bottling should always be done 
in clear weather. 

Cider is a cooling, pleasant, and wholesome liquor during 
the heat of Summer, and at any time, if it has been prepared 
without foreign ingredients, and properly fermented. On the 
contrary, when it is too new, or tart, or has, perhaps, been 
kept in leaden vessels, it cannot be recommended as a salu- 
brious beverage ; because that poisonous metal is easily dis- 
solved by acid. Good cider is the wine of America.* 

The domestic manufacture of cider is worse managed than 
any in our country ; perhaps the better way to correct errors 
is to point out some of the principal ones, and then to recom- 
mend better plans — and we are continuing this subject with 
these objects in view. 

Apples are commonly collected when wet, and thrown in 
a heap, exposed to the sun and rain, until a sourness pervades 

* Dr. H. Teter, an eminent physician, of Ohio, remarks : " Cider made of ripe apples, 
properly fermented, and racked or purified, is of all fermented liquors the most inno- 
cent and the best." But too little pains is taken with cider. It may be made, by care 
and proper management, as fine flavored and as clear as wine. 



216 ORCHARDS. 

the whole mass, then ground, and for want of a trough or 
other vessels sufficient to hold a cheese at a time, the pomace 
is put in the press as fast as ground ; and a large cheese is 
made, which requires so much time to finish and press off, 
that a fermentation commences before all the juice is out; and 
certain it i$ that a small quantity of the juice pressed out 
after fermentation comes on, will spoil the product of a whole 
cheese, if mixed therewith. When either of the above errors 
•will spoil cider, we need not wonder at the effect of a combi- 
nation of the whole, as frequently happens. 

An experienced cider maker of New Jersey says: "As I 
have often exported cider to the West Indies, and to Europe, 
and also sold it to others for the same purpose, without even 
hearing of any spoiling; and as it is my wish to make the 
productions of our country as useful as possible, I will give 
an account of my method of making this valuable liquor. 

"I gather the apples when dry, put them on a floor under 
cover, and have a trough large enough to hold a cheese at 
once, and when the weather is warm, grind them late in the 
evening, spreading the pomace over the trough to air it, as the 
cider will thereby be much improved and enriched, and a fine 
amber color in it produced; and here it may be remarked, 
that the longer a cheese lies after being ground, before press- 
ing, the better for the cider, provided it escapes fermentation, 
until the pressing is completed. The following experiment 
will render this evident. . . . Bruise a tart apple on one side, 
and let it lie until brown; then taste the juice of each part, 
and it will be found, that the juice of the bruised part is 
sweet' and rich ■; so if sweet and tart apples are ground to- 
gether, and put immediately on the press, the liquor which 
they produce will have the taste of both kinds of fruit ; but if 
permitted to lie until the pomace becomes brown, the cider 
will be greatly improved. 

" I take care to put cider in clean, sweet casks, and the 
only way to effect this is to rinse or scald them well as soon 
as the cider is out, and not to permit them to stand with 
the lees, which will certainly cause them to become sour, musty, 
or to smell. When my casks are filled, I place them in the 



ORCHARDS. 217 

shade, exposed to northern air; and when fermentation takes 
place, I fill them up once or more (with a portion of the same 
liquor reserved) to cause as much of the feculent matter as 
possible to discharge from the bung; when a clear white froth 
comes out, I put in the bung somewhat loosely or drive it a little 
tight and bore a hole in it, and put in a spile, thereby check- 
ing fermentation gradually. After this has subsided, I take 
the first opportunity of clear, cool weather, and rack it off into 
clean casks, which I prepare thus : When I have drawn cider 
out of a cask in which it has fermented, I rinse it with cold 
water, and put in two or three quarts of fine gravel, and three 
or four gallons of water ; the cask is then well shaken or rolled 
to scour off the sediment always adhering to the cask, and 
which, if not removed, will act as a ferment to the liquor 
when returned to the cask, and spoil or greatly injure the 
liquor. 

"After scouring the cask, I again rinse them, and I find 
advantage from burning a match of sulphur suspended in the 
cask by a wire, after putting in two or three buckets of cider. 
A convenient way to perform this process is to have a long, 
tapering bung, so that between the two ends it will fit any 
hole ; to the small end of this bung drive a wire with a crooked 
end to hold the match. If the cider stands a week or more 
after racking, previous to being put away in the cellar, I rack 
it again, rinsing the casks, but not with gravel, and remove 
them to the cellar (which should be as dry as possible). The 
late made cider, I put in the cellar immediately after or before 
the first racking, according as the weather may happen to be. 
The cider intended to be kept till Summer, I rack in cool, 
clear weather, in the latter part of February or beginning of 
March; the casks must be kept full, and bunged as tight as 
possible." 

The writer of the above fines his cider with isinglass jelly 
as has already been directed, but in case the liquor should not 
fine in ten days, he directs to rack it again, and repeat the 
fining as before, but says it is best to rack it, whether fine or 
not, in ten or twelve days, lest the sediment should rise, which 
often happens. He also adds: "The foregoing operation 



218 ORCHARDS. 

should be performed previously to the apples being in bloom, 
but I have succeeded best in the Winter, during steady, cool 
wheather. I have likewise had good success hi fining cider 
directly from the press ; when this is done, I set the casks 
with one head out, but covered, put in taps, and let them re- 
main in a cool place, properly fixed for drawing. When the 
fermentation ceases, and the scum begins to crack, I take it 
off carefully with the skimmer, and draw it from the sediment. 
If not sufficiently fine before the middle of Winter, I fine it as 
above." 

We entirely agree with the writer in his views and process 
in cider making, and will add that our experience with regard 
to keeping the pomace some hours before pressing is, that it 
is highly beneficial to the quality, and adds a beautiful amber 
color to the liquor. In cool weather it may be kept from the 
press twelve hours before pressing. Some authors insist that 
the pulp should remain in the vat or trough from twenty-four 
to forty-eight hours, or even longer, if the weather is cool, in 
order to heighten the color and increase the saccharine prin- 
ciple. 

We append the following recipe, given in the Grermantowh 
Telegraph by Mr. Nicholas Nail, of Moor county, North Car- 
olina, as containing valuable suggestions: 

" How to Make Cider. — All apples fit to be eaten will 
make good cider. The grand secret is in cleansing it from 
the filth and dregs as early as possible. Each sort of apples 
is to be crushed and pressed by themselves. Two kinds of 
juice, both good, would, if mixed, often make bad cider. Throw 
out all imperfect, sorry, and sunburnt apples, as well as dust 
and trash. Crush your apples before much mellowed, as they 
lose their strength, soundness, and spirit, if too mellow. Let 
them stand a half a day after being crushed, before putting 
into the press; then press them slowly; discontinue it as soon 
as the juice appears thin and watery. The advantage of 
slow pressure is in making the liquor run pure. 

" Let your casks, previously well cleansed, be filled quite full, 
to permit the froth and pomace to discharge itself at the bung. 
When the fermentation abates, cover the bung closely with 



ORCHARDS. 219 

something that may he lifted by the fixed air that escapes 
during the future fermentation, 

"In a week, rack off the cider carefully, ceasing the moment 
you observe it to run muddy ; now stop the cask more firmly. 
In ten days rack it off a second time, and in fifteen days a 
third time. In every instance the cask is to be cleaned and 
perfectly filled ; and when filled for the last time, to be bunged 
close in a deep, dry cellar, never to be moved, until drawn 
for use. 

"Late cider need not be racked until March, and then one 
racking, or at the most, two, will be sufficient. 

"Be very careful that no water, not even the little that will 
adhere after rinsing the cask, is mixed with the cider. The 
smallest quantity of rain water will render the cider unfit to 
keep. The addition of any quantity of distilled spirits is not 
only useless but injurious. 

"Mr. Nail's method is the result of long experience, and its 
success justifies me in recommending it to the public. I hope 
it will be tried. 

" I ought to have mentioned that Mr. Nail told me that he 
had for many years tried various plans for clarifying cider, to 
prevent its souring, by means of milk, isinglass, scalding and 
skimming, filtering through sand, &c, and found all useful, 
but is satisfied that frequent racking or drawing is far prefer- 
able to any other method he has attempted." — J. W. P., in 
Grermantown Telegraph. 

HOW TO DRY APPLES. 

The following advice, if carefully followed, will insure a 
ready market and high prices for this valuable commodity. 

In collecting the fruit for drying, carefully assort it, and 
select all the sound and perfect apples. Pare and core 
these carefully, then slice and dry without allowing them to 
get wet. See that they are not exposed to dust, and as soon 
as dried, put away carefully until ready for market. Follow 
these directions as near as you can in every particular, and 
when you offer them for sale you will readily realize from two 



220 ORCHARDS. 

to three cents a pound more than the price of those dried in 
the ordinary way. 

CIDER VINEGAR. 

Vinegar is an agreeable pungent acid, which is obtained 
from cider, wine, beer, or other fermented liquors. 

The principal requisites to form good vinegar, according to 
Parmentier, are : 1st, Contact with the air ; 2d, A temper- 
ature not exceeding 77° of Fahrenheit; 3d, The addition of 
some extraneous vegetable matter to promote acetous ferment- 
ation ; and 4th, The presence of alcohol. This last requisite 
has not been generally known in the United States; its im- 
portance, however, was discovered by Col. Anderson, of New 
York, many years ago, and before Parmentier wrote; and 
he has since been in the practice of adding some cider spirit 
(apple brandy) to make cider vinegar, during the progress of 
the acetous fermentation. 

"The inhabitants of the cider-perry cantons," says Par- 
mentier, "make vinegar of these two liquors thus: in a cask 
of 800 pints they mix six pounds of sour (aigre) yeast (made 
with leaven and rye flour) with hot water, and pour it in the 
cask ; after agitating it with a stick, they let it remain, and 
in six or eight days, vinegar of good strength is produced. It 
is very necessary to draw off this vinegar as soon as done, 
because it is more subject to become vapid than wine-vinegar. 
The bung, when vinegar is made in this way, should be kept 
close. 

Mr. Joseph Cooper makes his vinegar of good-bodied sweet 
cider; fills the barrels one-third full, and permits it to stand 
with the bung-holes slightly covered for at least nine months. 
If fermentation does not proceed with sufficient rapidity he 
draws off a few quarts of the liquor, and, after boiling and 
skimming it, returns it again to the cask. Mr. Cooper con- 
firms the utility of the practice of adding cider or rye spirit 
to weak vinegar to increase its strength. 

Mr. Wm. Sheaff, of Philadelphia, adds one quart of ripe 
and bruised sumach-berries, after being boiled with half an 



ORCHARDS. 221 

ounce of cream of tartar, to every barrel of cider destined for 
vinegar. 

Cider vinegar is very valuable for market purposes and for 
domestic uses. In the South, where the summers are long 
and hot, it is made by fermenting new cider in a warm room 
or shed fronting the south; or, exposed to the sun with the 
bung loose in the open air; under ordinary circumstances, 
without any other aid it will become good vinegar in the 
course of a few weeks, especially if it be made in the early 
part of the Summer. 

The apples best adapted to this use are the early seedlings 
and fruit from isolated trees on the farm, or any early ripen- 
ing apples that are not so good for other purposes. The cider 
for vinegar should be made from ripe, sound apples, as early 
in Summer as the maturity of the fruit will allow — and it may 
be put in sour barrels. It is not proper to rack it off at all, 
nor does it need any foreign ingredients to add to its strength 
or body, provided it has time to go through a proper ferment- 
ation — by Fall it may be good vinegar, but it will not attain 
perfection until the next Summer. There arc various receipts 
for making vinegar, or adding to its strength, with which most 
farmers are acquainted. We, however, prefer none of them, 
but choose to let the liquor take its natural course. The vin- 
egar should not be put in a cellar, unless it be a very dry 
one. The casks should be often examined lest they may be 
found empty, as the worms frequently perforate the barrels 
and all is lost. 

There is a method of procuring a very powerful essence of 
vinegar, which can be practiced only in very cold weather. It 
simply consists in exposing this liquor in basins, or other 
shallow vessels, when the watery parts are converted into ice, 
but the spirituous or acetous basis remains in a fluid state; so 
that, by repeated exposure, one pint of strong vinegar will be 
reduced to about a tablespoonful of essence. This preparation 
possesses a fine flavor and a most pungent taste, and is valu- 
able for particular purposes. 

HINTS FOR SOUTHERN FRUIT GROWERS. 
P. J. Berckmans, of Augusta, Ga., states in a paper read 



222 ORCHARDS. 

before the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, that the Sum- 
mer apples of the North generally improve in quality when 
raised in the Southern States; the Fall apples are of little 
value ; and the Northern Winter apples prove worthless, drop- 
ping their fruit in August before they are perfected. New 
Southern Winter aj?j)les are coming into cultivation that will 
keep up the supply until April or May. It is important to 
train the trees with low heads, so as to shade the stem from 
the hot sun of this climate, and to prune so as to preserve 
compact heads that shall produce fruit near the centre. The 
trees begin to bear early, some producing remunerative crops 
the third year after transplanting. In the nursery, the trees 
often attain the height of ten feet in a single season. 



PEACH CULTURE. 



CONTAINING 



PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS 



FOR THE 



CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT 



OF THE 



PEACH TREE AND ITS FRUIT, , 



AS ADAPTED TO 

Southern and Southwestern Climates, 

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ALSO 

COPIOUS LISTS OF THE BEST FRUITS, 

Embracing all the Information 

NECESSARY TO SUCCESSFUL CULTURE. 



"There is not only ornfort and health, but money in fruits." 

"To neglect the culture of fruits is to forego one of the highest pleasures of a country 
life."— R. H. Bryan. 



THE PEACH. 



(Fr. pSehe ; It. pesca ; Am. pechesen ; Dutch persickke- 
boom ; Spanish El Melocoton ; Persiea vulgaris, Dec; 
Mosacece, of botanist.) 

This well known tree, and its fruit, of the genus Persiea 
Amygdalus, of many varieties, is a native of warm or tem- 
perate climates, and was originally brought by the Romans 
'from Persia to Italy in the time of the Emperor Claudius, and 
from thence disseminated throughout Europe and other parts 
of the world. It was introduced into this country about the 
year 1629. The stones were ordered by the " Governor and 
Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in that 
year. 

Both the peach and nectarine, as well as apricots, are men- 
tioned by Beverly as growing abundantly in Virginia in 1720. 
Some of the former are represented to have been twelve or 
thirteen inches in circumference. They were raised so easily 
that some cultivators planted orchards of them purposely for 
feeding hogs, while others made a ,drink of them called "mob- 
by," which either was drunk as cider, or distilled into brandy. 

Peach trees, as well as those of the quince, are mentioned 
by Colden as having been killed by frost, in the province of 
New York, in 1787, bat the apple and pear trees were not 
hurt by the cold. 

The peach was introduced into Louisiana by the Spaniards 
prior to its settlement by the French, where it has been since 
grown spontaneously, and in many respects apparently indi- 
genous. 

This tree was introduced at Easton, Talbot county, Mary- 
land, by George Robbins, in about 1735. The stones were 
received from Peter Collinson, of England, together with the 
seeds of that year. 

In the United States, the peach thrives and is matured as 
16 



226 THE PEACH. 

far North as Boston, northward of which it usually fails. It 
is well adapted to all the Southern States, except in some low 
maritime districts. Throughout the Southwestern and most 
of the Western States, it flourishes and attains its greatest per- 
fection, growing spontaneously in fence corners, on road sides 
and lanes. 

This delicious fruit is never raised in England, and' not 
generally in France, without the aid of walls. China and the 
temperate portions of the United States are, therefore, the 
only countries where the peach and apple attain their highest 
perfection in the open orchard. The peaches of som& parts 
of China are said to be the finest in the world, and of double 
the usual size. " It is worthy of remark," says a good writer, 
"that the peach tree seems to hold very much the same place 
in the ancient Chinese writings, that the tree of knowledge of 
the old Scriptures, and the golden Hesperides apples of the 
heathens do in the early history of western nations. The 
traditions of a peach tree, the fruit of which> when eaten, 
conferred immortality, and which bore only once in a thousand 
years — and of another peach tree of knowledge, which existed 
in the most remote period on a mountain guarded by a hun- 
dred demons, the fruit of which produced death, are said 
to be distinctly preserved in some of the early Chinese wri- 
tings. Whatever may have been the nature of these extra- 
ordinary trees, it is certain that, as Lord Bacon says, ; not a 
slip or sucker has been left behind.' We must, therefore, 
content ourselves with the delight which a fine peach of mod- 
ern times affords the palate and the eye." 

The facility of raising the peach from the seed, remarks a 
modern writer, has probably tended to its general diffusion 
throughout the world. This fruit has steadily followed the 
progress of civilization; and man, from China to Peru, has 
surrounded himself with the luxury of th island other stone- 
fruits, very soon after he has begun to taste the blessings of a 
settled life. There are still spots where ignorance prevents 
portions of mankind from enjoying the blessings which Prov- 
idence has everywhere ordained for industry; and there are 
others where tyranny forbids the earth to be cultivated and 



THE PEACH. 227 

produce its fruits. The inhabitants of the Haouran, who are 
constantly wandering, to escape the dreadful exactions of some 
petty tyrant, have neither orchards, nor fruit trees, nor gar- 
dens for the growth of vegetables. "Shall we sow for stran- 
gers?" was the affecting answer of one of them to Burkhardt. 
One of the greatest blessings, continues he, that can be con- 
ferred upon any rude people (and it is a blessing which will 
bring knowledge, and virtue, and peace in its train), is to 
teach them how to cultivate those vegetable productions which 
constitute jjthe best riches of mankind. The traveler, Bur- 
chell, rendered such a service to the Bachapins, a tribe of the 
interior of Southern Africa. He gave to their chief a bag 
of fresh peach stones, in quantity about a quart; "nor did I 
fail," says the benevolent visitor of these poor people, to im- 
press upon their minds a just idea of their value and nature, 
by telling them that they would produce trees which would 
continue every year to yield, without further trouble, abund- 
ance of large fruit of a more agreeable flavor than any which 
grew in the country of the Bachapins." 

Although it is generally conceded that the peach tree origi- 
nated in Persia, yet it does not follow, from thence, that it 
was one of the natural 'productions of that country — 
and there are still doubts as to what part of the globe this 
splendid fruit was first cultivated or had its origin. Pliny 
relates that it had been stated to have possessed venomous 
qualities, and the fruit was sent into Egypt by the kings of 
Persia, by way of revenge, to poison the natives; but he treats 
this story as a mere fable, and considers it the most harmless 
fruit in the world ; that it had the most juice and the least 
smell of any fruit, and yet caused thirst to those who ate of 
it. He expressly states that it was imported by the Romans 
from Persia; but whether it was indigenous to that country, 
or sent thither from a region still nearer the equator, we have 
no information. He adds, that it was not long since peaches 
were known in Rome, and that there was great difficulty in 
rearing them. He also informs us that this tree was brought 
from Egypt to the Isle of Rhodes, where it could never be 
made to produce fruit ; and from thence to Italy. He says, 



228 THE PEACH. 

moreover, that it was not a common fruit either in Greece or 
Natalia. No mention, however, is made of it by Cato. Pow- 
nall, in his "•Roman Provinces," makes it a Phocaean import- 
ation to Marseilles; and evidently it was cultivated in France 
at an early period, as Columella, in his account of this fruit, 
says — 

" Those of small size to ripen make great haste ; 
Such as great Gaul bestows, observe due time 
And season, not too early or too late." 

"According to Royle, it grows in Persia both wild and in 
a state of cultivation, and flourishes on the Himalayas at ele- 
vations of 5,000 to 6,000 feet above the sea. 

"The nectarine is considered by some as a distinct species; 
but there can be no doubt on this point, as the peach itself is 
believed to be nothing more than an improved fleshy almond, 
which bears a similar relation to the peach and nectarine as 
the crab does to the apple, and the sloe to the plum. To prove 
that the peach and nectarine are essentially the same, it may 
be mentioned that the fruit of both have been found on the 
same branch; and even various instances are recorded where 
the fruit had the smooth surface of the nectarine on one side 
and the downy skin of the peach on the other." 

The transformations wrought by horticulturists and pomolo- 
gists are all but incredible. The peach, which, originally was 
considered a poisonous almond, and used, as some say, to im- 
pregnate arrows with deadly venom, has become, by long and 
judicious cultivation, the most delicious, harmless, and most 
excellent of all fruits. Cherries are derived from a berry of 
which a single one only grew on a stem; nectarines and apri- 
cots are hybrids of the plum and peach ; the chief of esculents, 
the cabbage, with its relatives, brocolia and cauliflower, came 
from a marine plant — from the common sea-kale, which shoots 
up on some sandy shores. From wild, sour crabs, scarcely 
larger than boys marbles, have proceeded all varieties of 
apples. The largest and richest of plums are descendants of 
the black thorn's bitter sloe. Such are mere specimens of 
vegetable metamorphoses brought about by transplanting, ac- 
climating, crossings, and culture. 



THE PEACH. 229 

The peach tree usually does not attain a large size, but in 
soils and climates well adapted to its growth, its dimensions 
are considerable, and it has a somewhat spreading form. In 
rather cold climates, the branches become elongated and scat- 
tering, in consequence of the new and tender wood of the 
suckers and twigs being annually killed by the frost or cold 
of the winters, thereby throwing an undue portion of the sap 
into the leading branches; which renders the shortening-in 
system of pruning particularly applicable to such latitudes, 
which forces the tree to fill up with numerous branches of 
young wood ; and, which lessens the leverage of the long 
horizontal limbs, and prevents their breaking off with the 
weight of the fruit. The leaves are narrow, smooth, and 
separated. The blossoms are of a very gay and beautiful 
pink color — some are double, and some much larger than 
others. 

The peach is rather more tender and not so long lived as 
the most of fruits raised in temperate climate?, but it is a 
rapid grower, and commences to bear fruit usually the third 
year from planting the seed. In the Northern States, the 
trees often decay after bearing two or three good crops, and 
sometimes the first good crop is the last; but this early decay 
of the tree is not applicable to the Middle or Western States ; 
and, in the more Southern climates it frequently attains the 
age of thirty or forty years — and is never attacked by the 
disease called the yellows. 

The fruit of the peach tree is various as to size, according 
to the care in cultivation and the health of the tree; ranging 
from the size of hulled walnuts to that of the largest apples ; 
specimens often measuring from twelve to thirteen inches in 
circumference. It is not so distinctly marked as some other 
fruits. There is a good deal of sameness in the general ap- 
pearance, size, form and color. The variation is caused by 
the climate, culture and soil. Some are of a waxy white, 
with a beautiful blush ; some of a light wax color ; others 
nearly red in the sun, while some have a dark gray, or dark 
blood red appearance; and all varieties are covered with a soft 
downy substance pervading the entire surface of the fruit. 



230 > THE PEACH. 

Some varieties have the flesh cling firmly to the seed; while 
others open freely and separate the flesh from the seed per- 
fectly. There are a few others which neither cling perfectly 
nor separate easily. , There is also considerable variation in 
the quality of this fine fruit on the same tree; that being best 
which is most exposed to the sun and air. These are some of 
the peculiarities of this juicy, luscious and most delicious 
fruit. 

USES OF THE FRUIT. 

The peach, as it regards its melting lusciousness of taste 
and beauty of appearance, excels all the fruits of the earth. 
It has been aptly said that "no fruit this side of Paradise" 
can successfully rival the blushing cheek and nectared juices 
of some of our fine varieties. Its delicious, refreshing pulp 
is always in demand when uncooked, or, when cooked, it 
affords the most elegant and wholesome culinary material and 
; delicious dessert dishes. 

The fruit, when perfectly ripened on the tree, and eaten 
when fresh and plump, is very nourishing, and can be indulged 
in with impunity, almost to repletion, without disagreeable re- 
sults. It is nourishing, diuretic, slightly laxative, and has 
other delicate and fine medicinal qualities. In pies, it is espe- 
cially fine, superb— nothing of the sort can be better. -Raw' 
peaches, with a little crushed sugar, are not to be despised— 
maple sugar, peaches, and cream is a dessert for the gods. 

Though somewhat transient in their fresh state, peaches 
may be carried in ice to distant parts of the world in a fine, 
sound condition — and, when dried, they can be kept in any 
climate, and carried to any distance. In locations distant 
from market, they may be converted into the finest brandy for 
medicinal and other purposes; and where they cannot be put 
early into the market, they may be largely cultivated for the 
purpose of drying, and sent to market whenever desired. 
Dried peaches are now (April, 1870,) selling at Richmond at 
13 to 15 cents per pound, peeled; unpeeled, from 7 to 9 
cents. At Norfolk, peeled, 15 to 17 ; unpeeled, 10 to 12 
cents. Lynchburg, peeled, 12 to 14 cents; unpeeled, 8 to 



THE PEACH. 231 

10 cents. Alexandria, peeled, 13 to 15; unpeeled, 10 to 12 
cents. Last Winter they commanded more than double these 
prices in all the cities. 

The drying of peaches in the far South is effected by spread- 
ing the fruit on boards, or frames filled up with boards, and 
exposed to the sun and air; but where the business is clone 
on a larger scale, for market, a drying -house is constructed, 
which is heated by a stove and furnished with ventilated 
drawers, a description of which has already been given in the 
course of this work. These drawers are provided with bot- 
toms made of laths or narrow strips, just open enough to 
allow the heated air to circulate freely through them. They 
are filled with free stone peaches, in halves, taken before too 
ripe. If they are to be dried unpeeled, they are first dipped 
in boiling hot water for a few minutes, they are then cut in 
two, the stone taken out, and the two halves distributed in 
single layers, touching each other, with the skin downward. 
When the drying is completed by the heat of the drying-house, 
which requires but a short time, the drawers are taken out and 
a fresh layer put on. 

The leaves of the peach when bruised and mixed with water, 
or bruised in water, and distilled, is a preparation called jieach 
water, which is much used as a delicate flavoring extract for 
culinary purposes. If steeped in brandy or other spirits, they 
communicate a grateful flavor called " Noyean." An imita- 
tion of the celebrated improved Noyean is made by using the 
best white brandy, which, after being flavored with this ex- 
tract, is sweetened with refined sugar mixed with a small por- 
tion of sweet milk, and then decanted. 

The refuse of the peach orchard and distillery are used in 
fattening hogs — for this purpose it is considered wholesome 
and valuable food. 

Peaches put up in brandy are considered a luxury, and the 
canning of this fruit in a ripe state, fresh from the trees in 
air-tight vessels, has become quite a large and profitable busi- 
ness in many parts of the United States. 

An eminent Northern pomologist says; "No man who lives 
under a warm sun will hesitate about giving a due share of 



232 THE PEACH. 

his garden to peaches, if he has no orchard; and even he who 
lives north of the best Indian corn limits ought to venture on 
a small line of espalier for the sake of the peach." 

PROPAGATION OF THE PEACH. 

This fruit is, perhaps, more easily propagated than any of 
our cultivated fruits. The stone or seed may be planted any 
time in the Fall. They will come up, however, much sooner 
in the Spring, and without further trouble, if planted as soon 
as the flesh is off — before they become dry. If they are allowed 
to get dry, they can still be planted in thick layers or beds, 
and covered three or four inches with rich mould, and in the 
following Spring, when the ground becomes warm and dry 
enough to work, they may be taken up and carefully cracked, 
so as not to mash or injure the kernels. These kernels can 
now be distributed in nursery rows in rich, light, well prepared 
soil. Place them about one inch deep, or as deep as you 
plant Indian corn, and twelve inches apart in the rows. The 
nursery rows should be four or five feet apart, and the rows 
had best run in a direction that will secure the most warmth 
from the sun. If the stones of the peach are planted as soon 
as the flesh is off, they will vegetate the next Spring, and, in 
rich, mellow soil, will grow from three to four feet in height 
by the Fall; and may be budded in August or September. 
This is an operation that should be carefully performed. 
Grafting the peach is seldom attempted, as success in this way 
is always uncertain. The buds should be put in as near the 
ground as possible. The next year, during the month of 
March, the young trees should be headed back; that is, care- 
fully cut off just above the bud, and the trees will, from these 
buds, in a good soil, attain the height of five or six feet the 
first year — and this is far the best size for transplanting, viz: 
one year from the bud. In northern climates the plum stock 
is preferred to the peach for the purpose of propagation, espe- 
cially for the finer sorts; and it is more suitable for walls and 
protected places. 

We believe, however, that free-growing, healthy peach stocks 



THE PEACH. 233 

are the most suitable and natural foundation for the growth 
of all standard orchard peach trees. 

In planting the stones to raise from, great care should be 
taken to select the largest and soundest, from vigorous thrifty 
trees, and not put in those of a different character — as such 
discrimination will be a great advantage to the growth, and 
also protection from worms and diseases, especially the yellows, 
where that disease is prevalent. 

Dwarf trees are made such by budding in the Marabelle 
plum stock, or some other slow growing variety of plum. Some 
employ the almond stock, but not for dwarfing. 

In raising seedling kinds, the stones should be grown in the 
South for Southern culture, and in the North for Northern 
culture. The peach is so easily propagated by seeds, and 
seedling varieties are often so very good, we are inclined to 
recommend a portion of the orchard or garden to be devoted 
exclusively to them. A good author advises the orchardist 
(and we entirely concur with him) to select fixed varieties, 
which, if cultivated at a proper distance from other trees, so 
as not to mix in the blossom, will invariably produce the same 
from the seed. The peach is propagated in this way with 
much less trouble, and, we know the trees to be much more 
hardy and durable; especially if the seeds or stones are planted 
and allowed to grow just where the tree is to stand in the 
orchard — by this means you save nearly a year's growth of 
the tree. With proper cultivation* and attention a complete 
assortment of fine peaches may be obtained, with quality as 
good, and far more durable than the best budded varieties."}" 

We have among our fine peaches several fixed varieties, 
and others might be proven to be such, by planting a few of 
their stones apart from other varieties, and when they come 

* The young plants must be carefully weeded during the Summer, and if the seed and 
management have both been good, they will grow to the height of three or four feet by 
the Fall. 

f Budded trees are more tender than seedlings. Something is due to the difference in 
varieties, but there is more due to the budding. In the budded trees, the sap does not 
find its way from branch to root so readily as in the seedlings, and the consequence is, 
that the fruit-bud on the former has a larger growth, is not so cc-mpactly done up, and 
consequently cannot so well stand the action of frost. Should any one be skeptical with 
regard to this position, as to the effects of the cicatrix, let him dissect carefully a few 
young trees at the point where the bud or graft is inserted. 



234 THE PEACH. 

into bearing, if they all be precisely the same, it may be re- 
garded as a fixed variety. Try several varieties in this way, 
and those that come nearest to the sameness required should 
be adapted as fixed standard varieties. In this way a splen- 
did assortment might be obtained with no expense and but 
little trouble. 

SUITABLE SOILS AND SITUATIONS. 

It is conceded that the very best soil for the peach is a 
deep, rich, sandy loam, or any strong mellow loam. Mellow 
loam, containing but little sand has been found to produce 
fruit of the finest quality, and for a long time successively; 
a light, thin, sandy soil will produce fine fruit, but the trees 
on such soils are not long-lived. The worst and poorest soils 
for the peach are compact clay, containing little vegetable 
matter. The rich, friable, red soils of the Piedmont sections 
of the South are unsurpassed in their adaptability to the per- 
fection and lusciousness of this fruit, and the finest of all spe- 
cimens are grown in this region, not only as it regards flavor, 
but also size and beauty. 

As a general thing, the peach will flourish in any moderately 
rich, friable soil, with suitable culture. Some authors esteem 
as best, a light and rather dry loam. On lands rather light 
and sandy, swamp much or ditch mud mixed with stable ma- 
nure is a highly beneficial corrective. On soils of a contrary 
character, sand, saw dust, leaves, &c, will aid greatly in the 
pulverization and productiveness of such land. 

Situation. — In regions of country that are subject to 
vernal frosts, situation or aspect is of considerable importance, 
as the blossoms are liable to be cut off when in the half open 
or full blown state; and they are sometimes killed in the bud 
by the rigor of severe winters. This has happened to some 
extent in Virginia during the last winter, 1869—70. The 
fruit buds were not sufficiently matured up to November, 
during which month we had the coldest spell ever known at 
the approach of our usual winter — affording an opportunity 
to get ice. Then we had a remarkably warm winter up to 



THE PEACH. . 235 

the 20th of February. On the 22d there was plenty of ice 
to put away, and the weather very cold. At this time the 
peach buds were very much swollen, and the most forward 
were killed by the freezing and bursting of their cells. 

Those who have to plant peach orchards in such frosty dis- 
tricts will find great advantage in making plantations on the 
north sides of hills, northern slopes and elevated grounds. 
They should be preferred to warm valleys and southern 
aspects, as in the cooler positions and aspects the vegetation 
is retarded, and may escape injury. The vicinity of large 
rivers and lakes, in the interior of the country, are also ex- 
empt from the effect of frosts and are generally finely adapted 
to fruit culture. 

It is not uncommon that the peach crop is partially or en- 
tirely destroyed in valleys and warm locations, whilst on the 
neighboring elevations fine and full crops are produced. It 
is said, on a frosty night in Fall or Spring, the thermometer 
indicates five or six degrees lower on bottom or valley lands, 
especially if they are narrow and deep, than on the hills ad- 
jacent. This difference, with regard to temperature, often 
causes, in such situations, a total failure of fruit. Those who 
are compelled to put their trees in such situations should 
plant those varieties that have the habit of late blooming. 
They should also select the fixed varieties,* such as produce 
the same from the seed; grafted fruit is always the most 
tender; such seedlings should be planted in the places in 
which they are to stand, as transplanted trees are more or less 
tender. They should be kept in a vigorous state — the worm 
at the root should be attended to, and the long limbs cut back, 
and the cultivation by no means neglected. Such trees will 
bear much frost and cold without injury. This treatment will 
cost no more than that practiced on trees in more favored 
positions. 

Perhaps a safer plan to secure regular crops in situations 
unusually frosty, is to procure nursery trees from the States 
far South — say from Georgia. f The young trees from that 

* Such as the Columbia, Heath Cling, Tufts Eareripe, Hale's Meloeotion. 
t Middle Georgia. 



236 THE PEACH. 

State will bloom at least ten or twelve days later in Virginia 
or Maryland than trees of the same variety that are natives 
of New Jersey or New York, when placed in the same orchard; 
and, by late blooming, will generally escape the late frosts in 
the Spring. This is a very important fact — and the benefit 
to be derived from this knowledge is not confined to those 
situations that are especially frosty. 

PREPARATION OF THE SOIL AND PLANTING THE 

TREES. 

If the natural drainage is not sufficient to carry oif the sur- 
plus water and moisture, it should be effected by artificial 
means— such as surface draining, by bedding the soil, by open 
and by secret or subterranean ditches. The soil should be 
deeply broken by first using a two or three horse plow, fol- 
lowed by a sub-soil plow as deep as possible. The ground 
should be well harrowed down. The plowing had best be 
done parallel with the ditches, or, if the descent is very grad- 
ual, and no ditches, up and clown the grade, so as to aid in 
the drainage. The rows for the trees may now be laid off' 
with the plow each way at the distance apart desired for the 
trees, stakes having first been set as guides for the plowman, 
who must have good command over his team. When the 
ground is thus checked off, the places may be easily prepared 
with the mattock and spade; and the notched board may be 
used to designate the exact spot for the tree. The planting 
of the peach is generally performed in the same manner as 
that already described for the apple tree, the process being 
substantially the same. Extremely rich soil, however, is rather 
detrimental for the growth of this splendid fruit, as the trees 
will require much pruning, and the fruit will ripen badly and 
be subject to the rot. 

As to the distance each tree should stand apart — about 
twenty feet each way, where the land is to be cultivated and 
the trees expected to grow large, will be about right; or, 
twenty-one feet each way, which is 100 trees to the acre. 
When the trees are to be shortened-in, or trained in somewhat 



THE PEACH. 237 

a conical or pyramidal form, fifteen feet may be sufficient for 
regular orchards. Where it is desired to take the wagon 
through the orchard, to carry the fruit away, twenty-four feet 
distance to every fifth row, one way, will afford sufficient 
space. In apple orchards, with trees thirty or thirty-three 
feet, a row of peach trees between may be grown with ad- 
vantage. 

Proper Location. — The Rev. C. W. Westbrook, an eminent 
pomologist of North Carolina, says: "The peach does not 
require the richest, nor will it succeed on the poorest soils, 
unless a good supply of vegetable matter be used, not only in 
planting, but subsequently as a top-dressing. In planting a 
peach orchard, I would select, as a general rule, high ground 
of moderate fertility, capable of producing a moderate crop of 
grain." 

"I would not be careful to select a northern, southern, 
eastern, or western exposure in particular, but would prefer 
to plant, if possible, on opposite ground at the same time. 
For example — one of my neighbors owned a high hill which 
sloped north and south. He had peach orchards on both 
sides of the hill. I have seen the orchard on the north side 
burdened with fruit; while on the south side the frost had 
completely destroyed the crop — and vice versa. The same 
may be said of eastern and western exposures.* 

"It is doubtless quite as advantageous to plant on different 
locations, and thereby render a crop in either one of the 
orchards almost certain annually. Peach trees will thrive, 
with proper care, in either red, gray, or sandy soils." 

When to Plant. — The same Southern writer says (and we 
are of the same opinion): "There seems tv be various dif- 
ferences of opinion in regard to the most suitable season for 
transplanting peach trees. I am satisfied that the Fall is the 
proper time. My reasons are obvious : In the first place, the 
peach tree, to do well, and come early into bearing, in addi- 

* The author agrees with Mr. Westbrook in this — having experienced the effects of the 
vicissitudes of the Winter in different locations and exposures; and, he has to remark 
in the same connection, that his orchards on the hills are at this time (May the 1st) 
laden with young fruit, whilst those in the valley have none, or but a scattering crop. 
This was occasioned by the cold of the 22d and 23d of February, 1870. 



238 THE PEACH. 

tion to thorough cultivation, and thorough pruning, must be 
transplanted in a dormant state, or, after the leaves have 
fallen, the sap ceased flowing, and the roots well matured ; 
and before young rootlets begin to groAv, or the buds begin to 
swell. November and December constitute the season to which 
I allude. By the 10th of November, in this latitude, the sap 
is perfectly dormant. Usually, the month of January is too 
cold, and the ground too much frozen for transplanting. In 
February the sap begins to rise, and the roots begin to grow, 
and the buds begin to SAvell." At the North, Spring is pre- 
ferred, especially for stiff clayey soils. The peach tree, how- 
ever, will thrive, if properly planted, from the first of Novem- 
ber to the time the fruit buds begin to show the red. 

When it is necessary to use manures in the preparation of 
the soil for transplanting, w.ood ashes should not be omitted, 
as the peach tree contains much potash. The soil into which 
the trees are to be set should be fertilized also with scrapings 
from the woods and fence corners — w r ell pulverized swamp 
muck is very beneficial. Trees planted in the Spring should 
always be mulched. 

One of the causes of peach trees dying while young is the' 
planting, transplanting, and pruning the same stock, which 
causes the stock to be tender, and the bark of the tree very 
rough; this roughness of the bark gives opportunities to in- 
sects to lodge and breed in it; and birds in search after these 
insects for their support, with their sharp bills, wound the 
stock in many places ; from- which wounds the sap of the tree 
is drawn out, which congeals, and seldom fails to kill, or to 
render the tree useless, in a few years. To prevent this, 
transplant the trees, as young as possible, where you mean 
them to stand — by so doing, you save nearly all the roots. If 
the kernel is planted where the tree is intended to stand 
there will be no cheek in growth, which is always injurious to 
peach trees. But as trees already budded are generally pro- 
cured from the nurseries, it is well, in order to secure good 
roots, to purchase those, only one year from the bud. Such 
young trees need no staking, and, if properly planted, will 
grow erect and vigorous, and will outstrip those planted at 



THE PEACH. 239 

the same time of larger size. Where rocks can be conve- 
niently obtained, it is well to place two or three flat ones about 
the roots. With such protection the trees will stand a hur- 
ricane. 

If the kernels are planted where they are intended to re- 
main, which is always best, the soil should be in fine condition, 
and they will grow large enough to bud by the next season ; 
and that portion which are fixed varieties, and do not require 
budding, will remain and grow off without any disturbance. 
Transplanting, as has already been recommended, should be 
done in the Fall, as soon as the leaves are oif ; or, very early 
in the Spring. In close, clayey soils, Spring planting is con- 
sidered best; but it should be done early, before the buds 
start, unless unavoidable circumstances prevent. The later it 
is done, the more careful should be the preparation of the soil. 

Some Winters give favorable opportunities for planting 
during that season, and it is all the better if a little trash or 
mulching be thrown around the stem, at the roots, to prevent 
freezing out and injury from frost. In budding, select buds 
having three leaves or buds, and next to these two, preferring 
the buds at or near the middle of the scion. 

Those who wish to plant a nursery of peach stones (which 
should be selected from the largest and most perfect fruits), 
should have their ground light and mellow, Plant in drills 
about four feet apart and one foot apart in the rows. When 
from three to five inches high, they can be removed with the 
transplanting trowel or mattock, with as much soil adhering 
as may be convenient. Some let them remain two years; but 
with a suitable soil and good culture, the peach is large enough 
for budding the first year, and for transplanting the second ; 
it is not desirable to have larger trees, and the younger they 
are placed where they are to remain the better, as such trees 
will grow oif more freely and become more healthy and vigor- 
ous than trees transplanted at the same time of much larger 
size. 

Mr. Westbrook directs peach trees to be planted in the fol- 
lowing manner: "In small orchards, I use stakes, set, one for 
every tree to be planted, and in perfectly straight lines either 



240 THE PEACH. 

way. If the soil be thin, I drop a few shovels full of rich 
earth from the woods or fence corners at every stake. The 
planting, then, is easily done. 

"The soil having been previously well broken, I dig a hole 
large enough to receive, in their natural position, all the 
roots; the stake being left standing. Then cut off with a 
sharp knife about one third of the branches of the tree; 
or, in other words, reduce the top about one third; also, 
by an under cut, any bruised or mutilated portions of the 
roots (Mr. W., we suppose, refers to trees two or three years* 
old), leaving all the sound, healthy roots and fibres Then 
take up the stake and plant the tree exactly where the stake 
stood, and just as deep, and no deeper, than it grew in the 
nursery, spreading out the roots naturally. Then sift or 
scatter the fine soil gently on the roots, until all the interstices 
are well filled by working it in among the fibres with the 
fingers, while the earth is thrown in, and then, as rapidly as 
you please, up to the collar of the tree (which is the place a 
little above where the roots are emitted from the lower ex- 
tremity of the trunk — usually about two inches, and of a yel- 
lowish color), and then press the earth gently with the feet all 
around the stem and over the roots. The planting done, it is 
best to throw some kind of coarse litter, such as can be most 
easily obtained, around the trees, covering the surface five or 
six inches, to protect the roots in dry weather. When trees 
are planted in the Fall, I deem it altogether unnecessary to 
use the litter." 

CULTIVATION. 

It is well known to the cultivators of this delightful fruit, 
that it requires careful cultivation in order to insure the per- 
fection of both tree and fruit that is always desirable, and 
which is by this means so easily attained. Nothing that grows 
out of the earth will pay better for the care bestowed, or will 
shew good treatment sooner than the peach tree. Although 
it cannot be denied, that in favorable climates, and in good 
soils, trees promiscuously growing about farms will, for a few 
years, bear fruit of fine flavor — yet such fruit will not be 



THE PEACH. 241 

large, and the trees will last only a few years in consequence 
of the worm at the root. 

Without attention, the peach is always a failure; at least 
to a great extent. This accounts for the discouragement which 
attends the raising of this delicious fruit in many places. It 
is tender, and needs care in its management; yet very little 
skill or science is required in attaining for it high perfection 
both in fruit and tree. The difficulties generally complained 
of originate in northern climates. The South is the original 
home of the peach, and we have only the curculio and the 
borer to contend with, as a general thing. Every person who 
attempts peach culture should resolve to bestow the time ne- 
cessary to keep out the grass — to give a little manure now 
and then — and to keep the soil beneath the trees in a fine 
pulverized condition. Do this, and attend to the directions 
in this work for the destruction of the insects just named, and 
the most satisfactory results will certainly reward the light 
labor bestowed. 

It will be a pleasant recreation for the farmer in his walks, 
during the fine days of Spring, to view the beautiful blooming 
of his trees — their progressive, teeming luxuriance — and after- 
wards to witness the increasing size, development and beauty 
of the fruit ; whilst, at the same time, he pinches off a useless 
or exuberant twig or bud here and there — or sees a little gum 
exuding from the crown of the roots of the young trees, indi- 
cating the presence and work of the borer, and with his 
pocket-knife follows him up, and decapitates the little raven- 
ous sap-sucker. 

Although the peach tree is so easily raised, yet there is 
considerable diversity of opinion among authors and garden- 
ers as to the proper cultivation and training of this unrivaled 
fruit. There is disparity of opinion between Northern and 
Southern orchardists. Those of the South, for light sandy 
soils, recommend shallow plowing and tillage; while those at 
the North plow deeper, and work the soil more thoroughly. 
Perhaps both are right — for, in the light, thin, sandy soils, 
the roots are forced to run shallow in search of food, and the 
plowing, if not carefully done tears and bruises the roots to 
17 



242 THE PEACH. 

a serious extent. On the other hand, trees grown in deeply 
prepared, loamy soils run deep, and beyond the reach of the 
plow in cultivation. The farmer must, therefore, use some 
judgment in this matter, and vary his practice according to 
the depth and nature of his soil. (Perhaps the best tool with 
which to work immediately under the trees is a good garden 
fork; and, in no case, allow the plow to pass right under the 
trees.) 

The cultivator of light sandy soils enriches the ground by 
mulching, and top dressing with manure, and Jeaves it in a 
state of rest. This treatment is no doubt the best for such 
soils. In deep, loamy soils, the ground having been deeply 
plowed or spaded before planting, the roots naturally run 
deep, and admit the cultivation, by plowing or other tillage, 
with great benefit. In all heavy, clayey soils, the ground 
should be kept constantly mellow and loose. No grass or 
weeds should be allowed to grow near the trees to rob them 
of their food.* Root crops, peas, and any low, hoed crops 
may be permitted between the rows for two or three years, 
but nothing should be grown just under the trees. After the 
third or fourth year, no crops should be raised in the peach 
orchard, but the whole surface should be cultivated for the 
exclusive benefit of the trees. 

In regard to the poverty or fertility of soils intended for 
peach culture, there is some disparity of opinion; but it is 
generally conceded that a medium soil is to be preferred. The 
poorer soils produce the finer flavored fruit, but the quantity 
is less, and the trees suffer for want of food — insects take ad- 
vantage of this feeble state of the tree, and are especially in- 
jurious to it and its fruit. Peach trees on very rich soils 
grow faster and larger, look greener, and are thicker in the 
boughs, and cause a thicker shade; yet on them will grow 
but very little fruit, and that little will be ill-tasted, greenish, 
even when seemingly ripe, and of a bad kind. A middling 
fertility should, therefore, be preferred, as producing vigorous 

* The cultivation of the peach and apple, especially of the former, should be continued 
latatf than that of corn or potatoes. It should be continued as long as weeds will 
gro.Wi 



THE PEACH. 248 

and healthy trees, bountiful crops, and fruit of fine size and 
quality. 

In deep, loose soils, the roots of the peach tree penetrate to 
a considerable depth. Instead of losing by being opened and 
exposed to the frosts and air, the stiff clayey soil gains greatly 
in value by the very act of rendering it more friable, while at 
the same time it has naturally sufficient heart to bear a crop- 
ping with peas or roots with advantage rather than injury to 
the trees. The health, growth, and vigor of an orchard in 
moderately strong land, kept under cultivation, is surprisingly 
greater than if alloAved to remain in sod. The farmer will 
see that the difference in treatment, or cultivation, therefore, 
should always adapt itself to the nature of the soil. 

Trees that have been grown and cultivated for a length of 
time, and not manured, unless the land is naturally strong, 
are like an animal tied to a post with a limited range of pas- 
ture. In both cases it is indispensable that food be carried to 
them or they will starve. 

The crops injurious to the peach tree are those that ripen 
their seeds — such as Indian corn, and all small grains. Clover, 
and all the grasses, are decidedly injurious. Potatoes, and 
all root crops may be cultivated with advantage, for a time, 
among the trees — squashes, pumpkins, and vines generally, 
may be allowed. Pasturing orchards with small animals, when 
•the trees are three or four years old, by turning in hogs, calves, 
sheep and poultry, will have a good effect in destroying insects, 
as the animals consume the wormy and faulty fruit as it falls. 
Sometimes hogs will strip the bark from the roots of peach 
trees. We had a few valuable trees injured in this way some 
years ago. The hogs are the most serviceable in the 
orchard, but they must be avatched. While on this sub- 
ject, it may not be amiss to say something about enclo- 
sures. If you have a mind to get your orchard effectually 
pruned, omit this little matter, and your cattle will perform 
the job in much less .time than you could do it yourself. Their 
avidity and energy are surprising, as they will leave clover up 
to their eyes to browse on the luxuriant branches of your val- 



244 THE PEACH. 

liable and favorite trees, remorselessly tearing them limb and 
branch, and all your labor is lost. 

' ENCLOSURES. 

A cheap fence can be made of posts and rails in this way: 
Set your posts eight to ten feet apart — they may be six feet 
above the ground. Mortise, or bore holes with a two inch 
augur for three rails, divided properly, so that the fence will 
be five feet high, and let them in the posts. The holes in the 
ground, for the posts, should be about eighteen inches deep. 
This fence will be fully sufficient to keep out cattle, and any- 
coarse workman can make it. 

Another simple and cheap fence for this purpose is made as 
follows: A. stake and cap line is made the usual way. The 
stakes well driven, or put in the ground. Have the usual 
crook for a stake and cap fence. Prepare short stakes; drive 
them in the ground between the long stakes — that is, between 
each pair of long stakes — so that, when well driven, about two 
and a half feet of them will remain above ground. Now place 
three or four courses of rails between each pair of long stakes 
with their ends resting on the top of the short stakes. This 
will make a substantial fence four and a half or five feet high, 
sufficient to keep out all large stock, and suitable for any 
orchard and for other purposes. 

MANURES. 

When the soil around peach trees requires manure, which 
it very often does, there is nothing better than wood aches, 
leached or unleached, and all vegetable manures are proper 
for this fruit. 

Well-rotted chip manure and ashes, or, a light dressing of 
lime with the litter, is very beneficial. Muck or ditch mud, 
when a Winter's frost has ameliorated it, mixed with animal 
or vegetable manures, is an excellent compost, especially if 
the soil be light, sandy, or slaty. Soap-suds, chamber-slops, 
&c, are good; and their action, like that of ashes, is imme- 
diate and certain. 



THE PEACH. 



245 



For the renovation of old orchards, peach or a/pple, these 
manures act like a charm, and no farmer who has old dilapi- 
dated trees can afford to neglect their culture, pruning, and 
painting the wounds, and the application of some of these life- 
renewing and nourishing stimulants. The result in subse- 
quent crops would hardly be credited. 

TRAINING AND PRUNING. 

The pruning and training of the peach tree at the South, 
especially at the far South, is practiced for a different pur- 
pose from that practiced when we approach the limits of peach 
culture at the North. The peach tree at the South, if allowed 
to take its natural shape and growth, bears fruit in the third 
or fourth year from planting, and usually has a well-shaped, 
rather spreading, round head; full of small bearing branches 
and twigs well furnished with leaves and buds — the fruit 
always produced on the last year's growth. The only prun- 
ing here should be to shorten-in from one half to one third of 
the last year's growth to prevent over-bearing — and allowing 
the trees to branch as low as is sufficient to protect their stems 
from the scorching rays of the sun, aided by the compact 
heads that this manner of pruning produces — the heat and 
exposure to the sun still being sufficient here to give color and 
flavor to the fruit. Trees grown at the North, if left to take 
the shape that is forced upon them, shoot up their branches in 




the air, and stretch them irregularly around to an extent out 
of all proportion. This is on account of climate. The small 
limbs, shoots and twigs being always killed out during their 



246 , THE PEACH. 

Winters;* leaving only the large, bare, and rigid limbs with 
vitality sufficient to produce buds and leaves, and all the sap 
and growth are employed and forced to the ends of these lean 
branches, causing their unnatural elongation. (See cut.) 
Hence the necessity of keeping these long branches constantly 
cut bach, or never allowed to straggle off; and if they should 
bear fruit, the leverage would generally split them off the 
stem and ruin the trees ; so, that the shortening system is a 
necessary restraint in both the North and South; but it is 
practiced (in part) for different purposes. In the former case, 
it is to screen the stem and interior of the tree from the 
scorching and blistering effects of the sun, and to increase 
the size and quality of the fruitby reducing the quantity; while 
at the North, it is done to increase the number and promote 
the growth of short branches, and throw more vigor into the 
small shoots and twigs about the stem and body of the tree, 
so as to keep them in a healthy, vigorous condition, to stand 
the cold of the Winters, and to induce fruitfulness and supe- 
riority of fruit. 

Northern writers and cultivators of this valuable fruit do 
not seem to know why they are compelled to take this cutting' 
back and shortening-in course; but erroneously suppose they 
are correcting the habit of the tree — forgetting that the peach 
is a native of warm climates, and that it is naturally a round, 
bushy, compact headed tree. In other words the rounded 
shape of the head of the tree at the North is the result of art, 
while at the South, it is the work of nature. 

The early cultivators of this fruit in the United States, or 
in the Mi idle States, seem to have been of the opinion that 
the tree required but little, if any, pruning, training, or cul- 
ture; and this opinion might have been strengthened by the 
fact that the Winters, if not more mild, were prevented from 
damaging the trees and the fruit by the protection afforded 
by the tall forests that surrounded the small clearings of that 
period. The curculio, the borer, and the disease called Yel- 
lows were entirely unknown — and the crops were raised 'in 
such abundance, without care or special culture, as to be fed 

* This is sometimes the case in some parts of Virginia. 



THE PEACH. 247 

to the hogs. As the country became open, the cold, blighting 
winds increased in force; the insects be^an their work of de- 
vastation, and diseases before unknown were developed more 
or less fatal : and the resistance of the trees to all these 
enemies became more feeble as the fresh soil grew thin 
by repeated injudicious cropping, and deprived of polash and 
all the requisites that sustain the healthy growth and longevity 
of the tree. The growing of grain crops was especially inju- 
rious — and the peach crop declined. The production became 
uncertain, and many cultivators, from these causes, and from 
their negligence of proper tillage, gradually gave up the cul- 
tivation in many places. The same in many respects may be 
said of apple culture. We hope, however, the " golden age" 
of fruit culture is about to be revived, and that with proper 
tillage, skill, and attention, this pleasing and profitable branch 
of horticulture will attain the success and development it de- 
serves, and such as modern science, and energy, and an enlight- 
ened view of the importance of the subject demand. 

What is generally termed the shortening-in system, if reg- 
ularly attended to in the early Spring or Winter, will enable 
the peach tree to continue in full vigor and production in 
almost any good soil for from twenty to thirty years. Observe 
a healthy young tree in the garden or orchard, the first bloom- 
ing year. It is usually from six to eight feet in height, and, 
in the South, the head is well shaped, branching off about two 
or three feet from the ground. (We think low heads are best 
on many accounts ; they shade the stem and roots, and are 
more convenient for pruning and gathering.) The tree, per- 
haps, has never been pruned, or only slightly, to regulate its 
shape, and this is no disadvantage. In the latter part of the 
Winter, or very early in Spring, the pruning may be done. 
This is a very simple and easy operation, and consists only of 
shortening-in, or cutting off one third or half the last season's 
growth over the whole outside head of the tree, and also of some 
of the inside branches. The usual annual growth will probably 
Average from one to one and a half or two feet, and this trim- 
ming will take off from six to twelve inches. No exact length 
is required — and it is well to shorten back the strongest shoots 



248 THE PEACH. 

most, in order to favor the growth of the shorter ones. The 
longest limbs, that destroy the balance of the tree, should be 
cut back, in order to restore the equilibrium and uniformity 
of the head. By pursuing this course, the tree is brought to 
a well rounded shape, and all danger of the limbs splitting oif 
with the weight of fruit is obviated. By reducing the wood 
of the last year's growth, say to one half, it must be recol- 
lected we reduce the next years crop to one half, for we thus 
take off the bearing twigs. The remaining half will now re- 
ceive all the sustenance of the tree, and the fruit will be 
double in size. As the season advances, the young shoots put 
out from every part of the tree, and keep it well furnished 
with healthy, vigorous bearing wood for the growth of the 
next crop. The size and luxuriance of the leaves aid in pro- 
ducing larger and finer flavored fruit. It is the practice of 
some g: rdeners to shorten back close above a wood bud rather 
than a blossom bud, which is an advantage to the foliage as 
well as the fruit. The size and beauty of the fruit is much 
promoted by the size and vigor of the leaves. Fruit buds 
may be known, as has been noticed in another part of this 
work, by the spherical form they assume. The leaf buds, 
being pointed and rather sharp. 

This system of pruning must be a regular business, every 
year, as long as the tree lasts. It is done much more expedi- 
tiously 'than most persons are aware. The wounded parts, 
being small, need no plaster or painting, and it is generally 
done when the farmer is not busy. 

The appearance of a tree, or an orchard, pruned in this 
way, even after bearing many successive crops, is a very great 
and notable contrast to that of the skeleton shapes that have 
not been favored with this regulating treatment. Some people 
are very cautious, and discredit the benefits of this shorten- 
ing-in mode, as applied to the peach tree; but they should 
mark the difference between a beautifully rounded, low-headed, 
healthy young tree, laden with large, beautiful fruit, and lux- 
uriant green foliage, while the tree not so treated is of a char- 
acter so different, as is exhibited by the wood cuts above rep- 
resented; no one should, or can, doubt the advantages of so 



THE PEACH. 249 

simple a course of treatment to secure results so valuable, 
which they can see with half an eye. All intelligent orchard- 
ists recommend it with entire confidence to every man who 
plants a peach orchard or cultivates this splendid fruit. 

The training of the peach tree, as practiced in France 
or England, against walls or by espaliers, is of but little use 
in this country, except, perhaps, in some Northern latitudes. 
It is a little practiced in the vicinity of Boston, and some 
towns north of that place; and, it may answer very well for 
standard trees. In many parts of New England crops may 
be grown in this way. Directions for training, as adapted to 
this fruit, may be found in another part of this book. (See 
page .) For small gardens, and for ornamental purposes, 
at the South and West, it may be recommended; but in ordi- 
nary culture it would be attended with loss. 

Early Bearing. — In order to hasten or induce early bear- 
ing, where trees are. very luxuriant and expend their energies 
in growth, it is recommended to clip off the extremity of the 
branches in the early part of July — say about one third of 
the new growth ; by this means, blossom buds will be produced, 
the latter part of the Summer, for the next crop. This has 
been found to be very successful, and is recommended by sev- 
eral good authors. 

A Good Wash for the Peach Tree. — Take about a gallon 
of unslacked lime, two quarts of soot, a quart of soft soap, 
and one pound of sulphur. Pour on this warm water, until 
the whole is of a creamy consistency, or of the consistency 
of oil paint. It is applied to the stem and large limbs of the 
trees with a painter's brush, sponge or cloth. It should be 
laid on as hot as you can bear the hand in it, and it should be 
put on in the Spring and again during the Summer. This 
will promote growth and health, increase the vigor of the 
trees, and is excellent for the destruction of insects injurious 
to both tree and fruit. 

DISEASES— THE YELLOWS AND CURLED LEAF. 

The Yellows is a most fatal disease, supposed to be consti- 
tutional with the peach tree. Its ravages, however, as far as 



250 THE PEACH. 

the author's knowledge extends, seem to he confined at the 
present time to the Northern and Eastern States, and some 
portions of the West — the fine peach growing sections of the 
South and Southwest being nearly exempt from this formid- 
able malady. It belongs exclusively to this country, ?nd 
originated below Philadelphia about the first of the present 
century. For near an hundred years after the tree was in- 
troduced into this country from Europe, it was cultivated (or 
rather planted) in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey, aiid 
was, during all that time entirely free from all diseases, and 
the fruit was raised in the greatest abundance with but little 
culture or care, and was propagated principally from seeds. 
The fresh and rich virgin soils of those States, at this period, 
being eminently adapted to its growth and perfection. Most 
of these soils, however, were light and sandy, and the cultiva- 
tion of cereal crops was continuous and exhaustive, and in a 
majority of cases, without the least attention to the improve- 
ment of the soil, or rotation of crops, or, even an effort to 
sustain the fertility of the soil. Previous to this time, the 
peach tree, which was mostly allowed to have the exclusive 
benefit of the soil on which it stood became, by constant and 
close culture of other crops, in a manner starved out. The 
trees became enfeebled — the seeds imperfect — producing more 
weakly trees from generation to generation, until at last, about 
the year 1814, this destructive disease became so prevalent as 
to destroy whole orchards in the neighborhood of Philadel- 
phia and surrounding country. 

The disease was first noticed about the year 1800. The 
tree, when in good condition, always productive to excess, 
began to decline. The impoverished soil was no longer able 
to sustain healthy growth; the energies of the tree fast de- 
clined, and it became every year more enfeebled and subject 
to disease and decay. The progress of the disease was now 
constant and speedy wherever it had been cultivated in the 
Northern States, induced, it is supposed, by the farmers taking 
up the idea that the fruit south of them was the best; pro- 
curing imperfect and diseased seeds from the Philadelphia and 
other markets tainted with the disease. Northwestward, to 



THE PEACH. 251 

some extent, by the same means it has been disseminated — 
but the rich alluvial soils of that region, has, in a manner, 
limited its progress. 

Poor, sandy soil, poor cultivation, and overbearing originated 
the Yellows, and in order to succeed in the culture of this 
fruit, these evils must be remedied. It is particularly impor- 
tant, for cultivators in northern latitudes, in order to over- 
come this and other difficulties attending an uncongenial 
climate, that they should, by careful pruning and culture, and 
training where that is necessary, secure their orchards from 
the destructive effects of this disease. 

Indications of the Yellows, by slight observers, has been 
confounded with the appearance of the tree produced by the 
borer, as in both cases the decline of the tree and the color 
of the foliage is very similar ; also the premature ripening 
of the fruit is common in either case. It is not uncommon 
for the trees to be attacked by both the disease and the insect, 
and the decline of the tree is at once rapid and beyond remedy. 

Symptoms. — The Yellows is considered a constitutional 
taint, and all intelligent orchardists consider it contagious, and 
in accordance with this view, destroy root and branch of all 
suspected trees. The following symptoms of infection are 
almost infallible. 

1. The growth of shoots or twigs on the branches are slen- 
der, wiry and almost sapless. The leaves small, thin and 
narrow ; very different from healthy foliage. The color of 
the leaves are either pale yellow or destitute of color. The 
shoots are no longer grown on the extremities of the boughs, 
but are protruded from the latent buds on the large branches 
and on the principal portions of the stem. 

2. The premature ripening of the fruit which occurs from 
two to three weeks in advance of the proper season. The 
first year of the disease, the fruit grows to nearly its natural 
size ; but ripens sooner than usual ; the following season, it 
does not attain half that size — or even a fourth of the usual 
size, and the color is variable, with specks and large spots of 
dark or purplished red. Internally the flesh is deeply colored, 
much more than a natural or healthy state, and it is more so 
just around the stone. 



252 THE PEACH. 

It is established beyond a doubt that the Yellows is propa- 
gated by budding or grafting — that the stock, whether peach 
or almond, is sure to become infected, and is lost — and, that 
the seeds of diseased trees produce young trees in which the 
Yellows invariably break out.* Even stones from healthy 
districts, when grown in infected regions, produce young trees 
that soon fall a prey to this disease. The same happens also 
when the peach is budded on the plum or apricot. 

Remedy for the Yellows. It is confidently believed that 
with proper attention and care this very formidable malady 
may be easily remedied. The process is as follows : 

1. We should exterminate every tree, both root and branch, 
that has the Yellows. No other tree should be planted in the 
same place for several years thereafter, unless a thorough 
removal of the soil is effected. 

2. Great care should be taken to obtain stones for planting 
from perfectly healthy trees ; or,. buds that are known to be 
healthy. Nurserymen and farmers in districts liable to the 
Yellows should use the utmost care to procure from places 
known to be entirely exempt from the disease. 

3. To use every effort to preserve the trees in a vigorous 
and healthy state; and, in doing this we should, from the 
first bearing year, practice the shortening-in system of 
pruning, which we have already described. It will certainly 
secure the trees from over-bearing and all its disastrous con- 
sequences, and preserve them in proper vigor, health, and 
productiveness for many years. In a word, it will certainly 
and effectually prevent the Yellows where it does not already 
exist in the tree, and improve the size and quality of the fruit 
to an extent almost incredible. 

Independent of the Yellows, says a writer in a standard 
work on pomology, " The effect of shortening the shoots of 
the peach is not merely to throw more sap and juice into the 
fruit, but to add vigor and health to the tree generally, by 

*The yellow variety of the peacli are much more liable to this disease than any others. 
It is well known that they produce the heaviest crops, and are liable to over-bear, which 
greatly reduces their vigor— and the greatest number of victims are always to be found 
among the yeilow-fieshed peaches. 



THE PEACH. 253 

increasing the power of the roots relatively to the branches.* 
The peach being a short-lived tree, it has been justly remark- 
ed, were it allowed to expend all its accumulated sap every 
year, it would soon exhaust itself and die of old age." 

Will any farmer fail to save' his trees from this malignant 
disease, when it costs so little labor to do so, and, when the 
reward in fine luscious fruit is so tempting and valuable ? 

* Another good author asserts that "the decay of the peach 
tree, is, in a great measure, owing to the practice of grafting, 
whereby an imperfect union takes place ; sickly growth is 
the consequence, and the diseased tree is then rendered vul- 
nerable to the attacks of the worm, which completes its destruc- 
tion. He recommends strongly the practice of planting out 
every year, a row of the seeds of the finest peaches to be 
obtained in the market, and pruning them in their places, 
until they produce fruit, at which time those of inferior sorts 
could be grafted, and others of fine flavor might be permitted 
to remain, with the exception of their retaining health and 
vigor for many years to come. Peaches of the finest flavor 
may be obtained from trees the third year, by planting the 
stone without grafting or budding."* 

The Curled Leaf, or the Curl, is a disease to which the peach 
tree is often liable. It generally appears about the first to 
the middle of May, or during the early part of June. The 
leaves curl or twist up, become thickened and swollen with 
cavities on the under and reddish protuberances on the upper 
side. They remain in this condition some two or three weeks 
and then dry up and drop off. They are soon renewed by a 
healthy crop of foliage, and no serious damage is sustained 
by the tree or its fruit. The malady is caused by Apis 
Percae, or plant lice, that puncture the leaves on the under 
side. Those having large orchards would, perhaps, -not find 
it profitable to trouble themselves about the extermination of 
these minute insects, but in small lots or gardens it is well to 



*Note. — Varieties in this way may be obtained, true, to their kind, that will be of the 
finest quality, and being natives, are not so tender— and their duration will far exceed 
that of tbe finest budded varieties, and exceed them both in hardiness of tree and fruit, 
thereby avoiding the trouble and delay incident to budding. 



254 THE PEACH. 

do so, as the appearance of the infected trees is unsightly 
and disfigured for several weeks. 

Remedies. — A mixture of soft soap and water (the com- 
mon strong domestic soap) with tobacco stems boiled with it, 
and applied to the foliage and branches from the under side 
with a large syringe or garden engine, will soon rid the trees 
of these insects for the current year at least. If it is done 
when the leaves are about half grown, it will be seldom ne- 
cessary to repeat the application. There are other remedies, 
but as this is cheap, simple and effectual, we deem it unneces- 
sary to insert them. 

INJURIOUS INSECTS. 

We consider it a highly important matter to direct the at- 
tention of our farmers to the study of Entomology. We 
should carefully consult authorities and study and digest 
whatever we can find touching on this subject, as the injuries 
arising from the depredations of insects, both to grain and 
fruits, are incalculable. By studying their habits we learn 
how to combat them, and ascertain the stages when they are 
most vulnerable, and the most reliable for their extermination. 

Insects rarely attack the most healthy and vigorous trees ; 
hence the importance of effort to keep fruit trees in the most 
thriving state. The black louse, embodied in the rough bark 
of neglected trees, lays her eggs, and covers them until 
hatched, then removes to another place and repeats the pro- 
cess. The grain lice are attended by ants, which seem to 
milk them, living upon a sweet substance exuding from them. 
Insects are often destroyed by other insects, or insects that 
breed within them are their constant enemy and our friend 
and helpers. 

The Peach Borer or Peach Worm for many years has 
been the great trouble in peach culture. Its habits, however, 
at this time are so well understood, that it is not difficult to 
rid ourselves of this heretofore formidable enemy. Before 
the appearance of the borer, the most delicious and perfect 
peaches were raised in the Atlantic States almost without 



THE PEACH. 255 

culture. It was only necessary to plant a stone of any chance 
seedling, and in the third or fourth year, in due season, with- 
out farther trouble, the exquisite blushing peach would charm 
the sight and be ready to drop into the hand or mouth of the 
passer-by. The fine grafted varieties were equally a success, 
.and no blighting insect ever dared to tap the soft cheeked 
fruit or pulpy root of the luxuriant peach. But in the course 
of time this happy primitive condition of the tree became 
sadly changed. The Yellows and the Borer were gradu- 
ally troublesome and fatally prevalent. The cereal crops 
were allowed to steal away the legitimate and proper food 
from the trees. Starvation was common, and the two dis- 
tinctive enemies just mentioned rioted unmolested in our finest 
orchards. Thanks, however, to the care and skill of modern 
culture and the science of entomology, we can with ease over- 
come both these great troubles, and the peach tree may re- 
sume its natural luxuriance and vigor and attain its primeval 
perfection. 

The Borer is a voracious intruder that we can manage 
without difficulty. He does great mischief by girdling and 
devouring the whole circle of bark just below the surface of 
the ground, causing the tree to soon languish and die. The 
symptoms are very similar to that of the Yellows; but the 
true condition can be readily known by examining the crown, 
of the root, where the castings and gum of his operations are 
unmistakable evidence of his presence. 

This insect, in a perfect state, somewhat resembles a wasp. 
It is a slender, dark blue, four-winged moth. The body of 
the male and female is mostly of a steel-blue color. The 
wings of the male are transparent, bordered and mixed with 
the same blue color. The fore wings of the female are blue 
and opaque — the hind wings similar to those of the male, 
making considerable difference in the appearance of the 
sexes. During the Summer, the eggs, which are of a dingy 
white and scarcely perceptible, are laid on the tree at or near 
the surface of the ground in little punctions covered with 
greenish slime. In a few days, they hatch and become small 
white borers or grubs; they are very tiny and slender at first 



256 THE PEACH. 

and resemble the ascarides of the human body. They soon 
grow three-fourths of an inch in length, with a dark brown 
head, girdling and devouring the bark and tender sap-wood 
all the time of their growth. In the worm or grub state, it 
has six scaly and ten fleshy legs. It goes through its trans- 
formations within a year, though worms of two or three sizes 
may be found at almost any season. When full grown, the 
worm spins for itself a follicle of silk mixed with gum and 
excrement or castings, and in due time issues a moth. As it 
is so well known in this last state, the annexed figure repre- 
sents the male and female moths : 




Peach Worm. 



They commence issuing as moths in central Virginia about 
the last of June to the middle of July, and sometimes earlier 
or later. They do not always confine themselves to the 
peach, but attack the plum tree, and the result is equally 
fatal. The signs of its presence, however, are different, as it 
causes no exudation of gum in this as it does in the peach 
tree. 

Remedies. — The great modern remedy for the peach borer 
in the West, is communicated to the " Western Rural" by 
Mr. B. Pullen, of Centralia, Illinois. It is as follows: "As 
Spring will soon be upon us, 1 wish to add my testimony in 
favor of the ' Banking System' as a preventive against the 
attacks of the peach borer. As to its efficacy there can be 
no doubt. I have practiced it for four years with complete 
success. I would not advise its adoption until after the trees 
are four years old.* During the most of this period the bark 

* After scalding or cutting out the borers, trees two or three years old should receive the 
benefit of mounding. The mounds need be only five or six inches high. For such trees • 
clay or fine dirt should be used. Be sure to leave no borer in the tree, as the signs of 
his presence are not visible at the root after the mounding. 



THE PEACH. 257 

is tender, and the trees are liable to be girdled by even a 
single worm. Safety lies only in personal examination and 
removal with the knife, in Fall and Spring (September and 
April). In April of the fourth year, bank up to the height of 
from ten to twelve inches, pressing the dirt firmly around the 
tree. A little dirt should be added each successive Spring. 
It is not only a preventive, but a great saving of labor." 
(We think for trees four or five years old, mounds from eight 
to ten inches high, or of the size of tobacco or sweet potato 
hills, are quite sufficient to prevent the deposit of eggs near 
the tender part of the crown of the roots — above that, the 
tree is not vulnerable). 

This banking system is practiced (near Cincinnati, Ohio) 
by E. A. Thompson and others to an extent that most farm- 
ers would hardly undertake. They cut back their trees when 
one year planted. They plant their trees in the Fall, and in 
the Spring following, cut them back to six inches above the 
bud. The tree then, instead of having one body, has seve- 
ral — from three to six. The second summer, they plow both 
ways, turning the furrows towards the trees. The men fol- 
low with shovels, throwing the loose soil around the trees to 
the height of about one foot. In the Fall, the trees are again 
cut back, taking oif about one-third of the year's growth. 
The next Spring or Summer the same method is pursued, 
which raises the mound about one foot higher ; then cut back 
in the Fall, and the third Summer repeat the process, raising 
the mound another foot, which finishes the job. The mound 
will then be about three feet high at its apex and six feet in 
diameter at its base. The mounding may be done in the 
Fall, when the hurry is over. The dirt is never taken away 
from the trees — in fact, it cannot be removed without injury 
to the tree, for the young rootlets each year keep climbing 
up through this mound and form a mass of healthy roots. 
Now for the benefits : First, they have no trouble with the 
grub, or borer ; he must have air and light, and the mound is 
too much for him ; he comes out and that is the last of him. 
They never worm their trees or hunt for the borer, and more 
healthy or thrifty orchards than theirs cannot be found. 
18 



258 THE PEACH. 

The magnitude of these mounds will be an objection with 
most farmers, although Mr. Thompson says " one man can 
mound fifty trees in one day." But there are three mound- 
ing periods, and of course three days required to complete 
the work. Nothing is said about the result, in the way of 
fruit, .of this repeated cutting back of the several bodies, 
brought into existence by the first cutting of "six inches 
above the bud." We think there are other remedies equally 
sure, and rather more eligible, that will not require one hour 
to practice on fifty trees ; and, besides, in the course of a few 
years the bark of the tree from the apex of the mound to the 
roots ("which keep climbing up and spreading every year") 
would become pulpy and tender, and the *borer would re- 
appear and find a lodging as comfortable as before any 
mounding. 

Whilst on the subject of wounds, we have found by experiment 
that half a peck of pulverized clay, or even common soil, 
closely packed around the butt of the trees, from one to five 
years old, in the spring, and kept close to the bark during 
tilage f and well rounded up in the fall, will generally ex- 
clude all borers from the crown of the roots. It is best aiid 
safest, however, to examine and cut out all borers that may 
be already at work, or, which would be better, scald them 
with hot water or soap suds, which will destroy the eggs of 
the moth, should there be any. This is a very simple, cheap, 
and effectual remedy and we can recommend it with confidence 
as all that is necessary to prevent the female moth from the 
desired access to the roots ; or, if eggs are already deposited, 
they are by this means completely destroyed. 

The Virginia Remedy, (Allan and Johnson.) — "Examine 
the roots of the trees every autumn, and destroy all worms 

*For a complete and lengthened history of this insect, so familiar with the peach 
grower, we refer the reader to Dr. Fitch's most excellent reports ; also to some of the 
numbers of the Practical Entomologist, Philadelphia. 

f After the trees have been worked and mounded, it frequently happens that small 
trees, in swaying to and fro by the winds, make a space between the apex of the wound 
and the stem of the tree, and a few cracks in the soil or clay about the roots near the 
stem. These should be filled up as often as they occur with sand or fine soil or clay, or 
pressed close with the foot,as they are very convenient crevices for the fly that pro- 
duces the borer to deposit her eggs. ^ 



THE PEACH. 259 

that may harbor there. Lay bare the top of the roots around 
the neck of the tree, and leave them exposed during the win- 
ter to the frost, which will destroy the eggs of the moth ; 
then in the spring, threw around each tree one or two shovels 
full of red or blue clay." Experience has also proved most 
conclusively that if about half a peck of air-slacked lime be heaped 
around the trunk of each tree, or the same amount of leached 
ashes, by the middle of May, and suffered to remain until the 
middle of October, the peach borer will not attack it. 
By this means the most vulnerable portion of the tree is covered 
and protected from the attack of the insect, and large orch- 
ards have remained safe and secure, while unprotected trees 
have been speedily destroyed. Air-slacked lime and wood, 
ashes have been recommended, because these fully answer the 
purpose as protectives, and when spread over the surface, as 
they should be every autumn, they form the best fertilizers 
for the peach tree. Charcoal, clay, mortar, &c, have been 
used with nearly equal success as preventives, and applied in 
the same way. Some orchardists prefer the knife. They 
give the trees a regular examination spring and autumn. 
The earth is removed for a few inches just around the large 
part or crown of the roots. The presence of the borer is 
known by the gum or castings surrounding his lodging — follow 
him up with the point of the knife and he can be eradicated in 
a few moments without material injury to the tree. This is a 
very effectual mode, but not so safe as some others, because, 
the tree is always left exposed to attack and injury until the 
insect is again dislodged. 

Those who raise tobacco can protect their trees, if the bojer 
is not alr-.eady in, by laying tobacco stems or refuse tobacco 
about the trunk of the trees in the Spring and Fall. 

Black walnut hulls, or rinds, will completely protect the 
trees -if used in the same way, as no insect ban exist where 
they are kept mounded around the stems of the trees. Fi-om 
a peck to two pecks according to the size of the tree is suffi- 
cient. 

The Scalding Remedy, — Of all the applications yet pre- 
scribed for the extermination of the borer in all its stages and 



260 THE PEACH. 

conditions, the most convenient, elegant and effective, is hot 
fluid — soap suds, or hot water. By this means the eggs are 
destroyed at once and in a moment, and without the least 
detriment to the trees, whether they be young or old. 

For gardens or small orchards, use a large tea-kettle and 
pot — keep the latter constantly in a boiling state, and use 
the kettle to apply the fluid. For a few trees only the kettle 
is sufficient — for extensive orchards more vessels and larger 
may be established. Prepare a wooden paddle or spadula 
with a sharp angular point, or basil of any hard wood. With 
this, scrape from two to three inches of the dirt from around 
the crown of the roots, clearing away all the gum and cast- 
ings at the same time. The cavity thus formed will contain 
from a pint to four pints of fluid, arcording to the size of the 
tree. With your kettle, pour around each tree the scalding 
fluid as hot as you please — if boiling hot, it does not injure the 
trees. As it subsides, return the soil to the roots with the 
spadula. Pour a little of the fluid on the gum and castings 
which must be kept in a heap for this purpose, as these 
may contain small worms and eggs. The operation may be 
performed at any time, but the Spring, and again in the 
Fall, if the insect should be found, is the proper time. April 
and September are suitable for this purpose. It would be well 
to examine the trees occasionally during the Summer, and if 
any borers are found, give such trees the benefit of the hot 
fluid. This operation is so simple and cheap, of course no 
careful farmer or gardener will neglect it. 

Leaf-hoppers (Thrills) and Plant Lice {Aphides). — The 
same remedies are used for both. Syringe them from the 
underside as well as on the top of -the leaves and branches 
with strong soap suds infused with rubbish tobacco — or dust 
the leaves once or twice with strong wood or soot ashes. 

Mr. Leor, of Mo., says, that plant or bark lice, may be 
easily destroyed by scrubbing the trees and applying soap suds 
and the lye of wood ashes. 




THE PEACH. 261 

The Curculio ("Little Turk.")— Next 
to the borer this is the most formidable ene- 
my to peach culture. He prefers the plum 
and other smooth skin stone fruits, but when 
these cannot be found, the peach is his victim. 
The State Entomologist of Mo., (Mr. C. 
V. Riley) gives a very satisfactory account 
maSified weevil, of this "pernicious little scamp." We in- 
sert a few extracts from his first annual report, (1868). (How 
much to our advantage would it be if our farmers were better 
posted in Entomology. If we were, or would be true to our 
OAvn interest in this regard, the produce of the fields, as well 
as the orchards, would be greatly increased in both quantity 
and quality ; and a little of this useful knowledge, which is 
within the reach of all, would be a saving or addition of many 
millions in the productions of the country.) 

"It is the business of the Entomologist to teach the farmer 
and the fruit-grower, how he may prevent the ravages of in- 
sects, or the destruction of his crops ; how to distinguish be- 
tween insect friend and insect foe ; how to foster the one and 
destroy the other, before the latter has sufficiently developed 
to do damage. He is to show up any depredator whose pres- 
ence the casual observer can only judge by the damage he 
does ; he is to make us familiar with the general appearance 
of insect friends or foes, in all their changes, and inform us in 
what guise they do the most damage— for it is a well known 
fact that, while some, perhaps most, insects do damage in the 
larva state, like the codling moth, or the potato beetle — others, 
like the grass-hoppers or chinch-bug, do most damage as per- 
fect insects. 

The curculio is the dreaded enemy to the growers of all 
stone fruit. Mr. Ripley observes: "Although so much has 
been written about it, I find it necessary to devote a few pages 
to its consideration, since some of the points in its natural 
history are not entirely and satisfactorily settled even yet. 
There is, in fact, conflicting evidence from different authors as 
to whether it is single or double brooded each year, and as to 
whether it hybernates principally in the perfect beetle state 



262 THE PEACH. 

above ground, or in the preparatory state below ground ; the 
very earliest accounts that we have of the plum curculio, in 
this country, differing on these points. Thus it was believed 
by Dr. James Tilton, of Wilmington, Delaware, who wrote 
at the very beginning of the present century, and by Dr. 
Joel Burnett, of Southborough, and M. II. Simpson, of Sax- 
on ville, Ms., who wrote interesting articles on this subject, 
about fifty years afterwards ; that it passed the winter in the 
larvae or grub state under ground, and Harris seems to have 
held the same opinion. But Dr. E. Sanborn, of Andover, Ms., in 
some interesting articles published in 1849 and 1850, gave as 
his conviction that it hybernates in the beetle state above 
ground. Dr. Fitch, of New York, came to the conclusion 
that it is two brooded, the second brood wintering in the larvas 
state in the twigs of pear trees ; while Dr. Trimble, of New 
Jersey, who devoted the greater part of a large and expensive 
work to its consideration, decided that it is single brooded, 
and that it hibernates in the beetle form above ground. Since 
the writings of Harris and Fitch, and since the publication of 
Dr. Trimble's work, there have been other papers published 
on the subject. The first of these was a tolerably exhaustive 
article, by Mr. Walsh, which appeared in the Practical En- 
tomologist, (Vol. II, No. 7), in which he takes the grounds 
that the curculio is single brooded ; though subsequently he 
came to the very different conclusion that it was double brood- 
ed. (First Annual Report, p. 67.) In the Summer of 1867, 
I spent between two and three weeks" in Southern Illinois, 
during ,the height of the curculio season, and closely watched 
its manoeuvrings. From the fact that there was a short period 
about the middle of July, when scarcely any could be caught 
from the trees, and that after a warm shower they were quite 
numerous, having evidently just come out of the ground, I 
concluded it was double brooded, and communicated to the 
Prairie Farmer of July 27th, 1867, the passage to that effect 
under the signature of "V," which is quoted by Mr. Walsh, 
(Rep., p. 67,) as corroborative of its two brooded character. 
Subsequent calculations induced me to change my mind, and 
I afterwards gave it as my opionion that there was but one 



THE PEACH. 263 

main brood during the year, and that where a second genera- 
tion was produced, it was the exception, (Frans. Ills. State 
Hort. Soc, 1867, p. 113.) Finally, Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, 
Illinois, who has vast personal experience with this insect, 
read a most valuable essay on the subject before the meeting 
of the Alton (Ills.) Horticultural Society, of March, 1868, in 
which he evidently concludes, they are single brooded, and 
that they pass the winter, for the most part, in the prepara- 
tory states, under ground. 

Now, why is it that persons, who, it must be admitted, were 
all capable of correct observation, have differed so much on 
these most interesting points in the economy of our plum cur- 
culio ? Is there any explanation of these contradictory state- 
ments ? I think there is, and that the great difficulty in the 
study of this as well as many other insects, lies in the fact 
we are all too apt to generalize. We are too apt to draw dis- 
tinct lines, and to create rules which never existed in nature : 
to suppose that if a few insects which we chance to watch are 
not single brooded, therefore the species must of necessity be 
double brooded. We forget that curculios are not all hatched 
in. one day, and from analogy are apt to underrate the dura- 
tion of the life of the curculio in the perfect beetle state. 
Besides, what was the exception one year, may become the 
rule the year following. In breeding butterflies and moths, 
individuals hatched from one and the same batch of eggs on 
the same day, will frequently, some of them, perfect them- 
selves and issue in the Fall, while others will pass the winter 
in the perfect state, and not issue until the Spring ; and in 
case of a green worm that is found on raspberry leaves, and 
which passes the Avinter under ground, and develops into a 
four winged fly . ( Selandria rubi of my manuscript) in the 
Spring ; I have known a difference of three months to occur 
between the issuing of the first and last individuals of the 
same brood, all the larvae of which had entered the ground 
within three days. It is also a well recorded fact, both in this 
country and in Europe, that in 1868, owing probably to the 
unusual heat and drouth of the Summer, very many insects 
which are well known to usually pass the Winter in the im- 



264 



THE PEACH. 



perfect state, perfected themselves in the Fall, and in some 
instances produced a second brood of larvae. Far be it from 
me to pronounce there is no such thing as rule in nature, and 
that we cannot, therefore, generalize ; I simply assert that we 
frequently draw our lines too rigidly, and endeavor to make 
the facts come within them, instead of loosening and allowing 
them to encompass the facts. It was thus that the joint worm 
fly was for so long a time suspected to be a parasite instead of 
a tree culprit, because all the other species in the genus 
(Eurytoma), to which it was supposed to belong, were known 
to be the parasite. For those* 
who are unacquainted with the 
appearance of the plum curcu- 
lio, in its different stages, I 
have prepared, at figure 18, 
correct and magnified portraits 
of the full grown larvce (a) of 
the pupa (b) into which the 
larvae is transformed within a 
little cavity under ground, and 
of the perfect curculio, (c). 

With this prelude I will now give what I believe to be 
facts in its natural history, founded on my own observations 
of the past year, and on the observations of others. I firmly 
believe: 

1. That plum curculios are a most unmitigated nuisance, 
and, though most beautiful objects under the microscope, the 
fruit growers of the United States, if they had their own way 
about the matter, would wish them swept from off the face of 
the earth, at the rate even of interfering with the "harmony 
of nature." 

2. That they are more numerous in timbered regions than 
on the prairie. 

3. That they can fly and do fly during the heat of the day, 
and that cotton bandages around the trunk, and all like con- 
trivances to prevent their ascending the trees, are worse than 
useless, and a result only of ignorance of their economy. 

4. That by its punctures it causes the dreaded peach-rot 




FIGURE 18. 



THE PEACH. 265 

to spread, whenever that disease is prevalent, though it cannot 
possibly be the first cause of the disease. The peach-rot is 
now pretty generally acknowledged to be a contagious dis- 
ease, of a fungoid nature, and I believe that the spores of 
this fungus, "a million of which might be put upon the point 
of a stick whittled down to nothing," attach thomselves more 
readily to fruit which has the skin abraded, and from which 
the gum issues, than to whole or unpunctured fruit. With 
this belief I made some effort to procure, for the benefit of 
my readers, a synopsis of the growth of this fungus ; but, 
alas! I find that nothing but confusion exists with regard to 
it. Upon applying to my friend, Dr. T. C. Hilyard, of St. 
Louis — i recognized authority on such subjects — he furnished 
me with the article which may be found in the Journal of 
Agriculture of January 16th, 1869. I most respectfully de- 
clined publishing it in these pages, knowing that the reader 
would not be likely to understand what was either too pro- 
found or too befogged for my own comprehension, and those 
who require a synopsis of this fungus are referred to that ar- 
ticle. Verily, we must conclude that peach-rot is not yet 
much understood, if a more clear exposition of it cannot be 
given. 

5. That they prefer smooth-skinned to rough-skinned fruit. 

6. That up to the present time the Miner and other varie- 
ties of the Chickasaw plum have been almost entirely exempt 
from their attacks, and that in the Columbia the young larvae 
are usually drowned out before maturing. 

7. That they deposit and mature in nectarines, plums, apri- 
cots, cherries and peaches ; in black knot on plum trees, and 
in some kinds of apples, pears and quinces; and, according 
to Dr. Hull, they also deposit but do not mature in strawber- 
ries, gooseberries, grapes and in the vigorous shoots of the 
peach tree. 

8. That it is their normal habit to transform under ground, 
though some few undergo their transformations in the fruit. 

9. That the cherry, when infested, remains on the tree, 
with the exception of the English Morello, which matures 
and then separates from the stem; but that all other fruits, 



266 THE PEACH. 

when containing larvae, usually fall to the ground. In the 
larger fruits, four or five larvae may sometimes be found in a 
single specimen, and I have taken five full grown larvae from 
a peach that had evidently fallen and laid on the ground for 
over a week. 

10. That the greater portion of them pass the Winter in 
the perfect beetle state, under the old bark of both forest and 
fruit trees, under shingles, logs, and in rubbish of all kinds, 
and especially in the underbrush of the woods. 

11. That they are always most numerous in the early part 
of the season on the outside of those orchards that are sur- 
rounded by timber, and that they frequently shelter in apple 
trees and other trees before the stone fruit forms. 

12. That a certain portion of them also pass the Winter 
under ground, both in the larvae and pupa states, at a depth 
frequently of from two to three feet. 

13. That those that hybernate as beetles begin to leave 
their Winter quarters and to enter our orchards, throughout 
central Missouri, during the first days of May, and com- 
mence to puncture the fruit about the middle of the same 
month — a little earlier or later, according to the season — the 
fruit of the peach being at the time about the size of a small 
marble. 

14. That those which hybernate under ground continue to 
develop, and to issue from the earth during the whole month 
of May. 

15. That both males and females puncture the fruit for 
food, by gouging hemispherical holes, but that the female 
alone make the well known crescent-shaped mark (see figure 
18, a) as a nidus for her egg. 

16. That the egg is deposited in the following manner, the; 
whole process requiring about five minutes: Having taken a 
strong hold on the fruit (see figure 18 d), the female makes a 
minute cut with the jaws, which are at the end of her snout, 
just through the skin of the fruit, and then runs the snout 
under the skin to the depth of one-sixteenth of an inch, and 
moves it back and forth until the cavity is large enough to 
receive the egg it is to retain. She next changes her post*- 



THE PEACH. 267 

tion, and drops an egg into the mouth of the cut ; then, veer- 
ing around again, she pushes it by means of her snout to the 
end of the passage, and afterwards cuts the crescent in front 
of the hole so as to undermine the egg and leave it in a sort 
of a flap; her object apparently being to deaden this flap so 
as to prevent the growing fruit from crushing the egg, though 
Dr. Hall informs me that he has regularly removed the insect 
as soon as the egg was deposited and before the flap was 
made, and the egg hatched and the young penetrated the 
fruit in every instance. 

17. That the egg is oval, of a pearl-white color, large 
enough to be seen with the naked eye, requires a tempera- 
ture of at least 70° Fahr. to hatch it, and may be crushed 
with the finger-nail without injuring the fruit. 

18. That the stock of eggs of one female consists of from 
50 to 100 ; that she deposits from 5 to 10 a day, her activity 
varying with the temperature. 

19. That the last of those curculios which hybernated in 
the imperfect state under ground, have not finished depositing 
till the end of June and beginning of July, or about the time 
that the new brood developed from the first laid eggs of the 
season are beginning to issue from the ground ; and that we 
thus have them in the month of June in every conceivable 
state of existence from the egg to the perfect insect. 

20. That the period of the egg depositing thus extends 
over two months. 

21. That all eggs deposited before the first of July gene- 
rally develop and produce curculios the same season, which 
issue from the ground during July, August and September, 
and hybernate in the perfect state. 

, 22. That most of those which hatch after the first of July, 
either fail to hatch, or the young larvae die soon after hatch- 
ing, owing, perhaps, to the more ripe and juicy state of the 
fruit, being less congenial to them ; and that what few do ma- 
ture, which hatch after this date, undergo their transforma- 
tions more slowly than the rest, and pass the Winter in the 
ground. 

23. That the perfect curculio while in the ground is soft 



268 THE PEACH. 

and of a uniform red color; that it remains in this state an 
indefinite period, dependent on the weather, usually prefer- 
ring to issue after a warm rain. 

24. That in a stiff clay soil a severe drought will kill many 
of them while in this last named condition, and that larvEe 
contained in stone fruits that fall upon naked plowed ground 
where the sun can strike them, generally die. 

" This catalogue might be lengthened, but already embraces 
all the more important facts, and I think they sufficiently 
prove that the curculio is single brooded. There is, it is 
true, no particular reason why the earliest developed curcu- 
lios, or those which issue from the ground during the fore 
part of July, should not pair and deposit its eggs again, 
other than it does not appear to be their nature to do so. 
Such an occurrence is by no means an isolated one in insect 
life ; and aside from the fact that late fruit is almost entirely 
exempt from them, we have the experiments of Dr. Trimble, 
which indicate that they have to pass through the Winter be- 
fore being able to reproduce their kind." 

Next, Mr. R. gives a list of the cannibal insects that de- 
stroy the curculio, which we omit, although valuable. Among 
the natural remedies, he says a few words in favor of hogs as 
curculio destroyers, "Abundant proof might be adduced of 
their utility in an orchard, especially during the first season, 
but I will mention only the case of Messrs. Winters Bros., of 
Du Quain, Illinois. These gentlemen, for the past five years, 
have kept a large drove of hogs in their extensive peach or- 
chard, and have been remarkably exempt from the attacks of 
the 'Little Turk.' While at their place last Fall, I noticed 
that all the trees were banked up with earth to the height of 
over a foot, which prevented the hogs from injuring the 
trunks. They have never had occasion to shake their trees, 
and consider one hog to the acre sufficient to devour all the 
fallen fruit, the hogs being fed only during the Winter. The 
efficacy of this hog remedy depends a great deal on how one's 
orchard is isolated from those of others, for it is very evident 
that it will avail but little for one farmer to destroy all his 
curculio, while his neighbors are breeding them by thousands, 



THE PEACH. 269 

so that they can fly in upon him another year. They would 
also be of but little service in the case of the cherry, as it 
remains on the tree when stung. Poultry will be found very 
valuable in an orchard, as they also destroy the grubs that 
fall with the fruit. 

Artificial Remedies. — Of the hundreds of patent nos- 
trums, and of the dozens of washes and solutions that have 
been recommended as curculio preventatives or destroyers, 
there is scarcely one which is worth the time required to speak 
of it. Air-slacked lime thrown on the trees after the fruit is 
formed, is effectual in a certain measure, for though it does 
not deter the female from depositing her eggs, yet so long as 
the weather is wet, its caustic properties seem to be imparted 
to the water and enter the cavity and destroy the egg. But 
it, has no good effect in dry weather. An article went the 
rounds of the papers last Summer to the effect that Mr. P. 
E. Rust, of Covington, Ky., had tried burning tobacco stems 
with perfect success ! But a letter of enquiry which I ad- 
dressed that gentleman was never answered, although it con- 
tained the requisite 3 cent postage stamp, and the tobacco 
remedy may be placed beside the gas tar and coal tar reme- 
dies, which have proved utterly useless. After all, as Dr. 
Hull suggests, the success so reported of these remedies, take 
its origin from insufficient experiment, by persons who are 
little aware of the casualties to which the curculio is subject, 
and who, after they happen to get fruit after applying some 
particular mixture, immediately jump to the conclusion that it 
was on account of such mixture. 

" It may, therefore, be laid down as a maxim, that the only 
effectual and scientific mode of fighting the curculio, aside 
from that of picking up the fallen fruit, is by taking advan- 
tage of its peculiar instinct which. on the approach of danger 
prompts it to fall ; or in other words to catch it by jarring 
the trees. The most effectual method of doing this on a large 
scale is by means of Dr. Hull's "curculio catcher," and we 
give a description of it in the Doctor's own words : 

" To make a curculio catcher, we first obtain a light wheel, 
not to exceed three feet in diameter, the axletree of which 



270 THE PEACH. 

should be about ten inches long. We next construct a pair 
of handles, similar to those of a wheelbarrow, but much more 
depressed at the point designed to receive the bearings of the 
axletree, and extending forward of the wheel just far enough 
to admit a cross-beam to connect the handles at this point; 
one-and-a-half inches in rear of the wheel, a second cross- 
beam is framed into the handles, and eighteen to twenty-four 
inches farther back, a third. The two last named cross- 
beams have framed to their under-sides, a fourth piece, cen- 
trally, between the handles, and pointing in the direction of 
the wheel. To the handles and to the three last named pieces, 
the arms or ribs to support the canvass are to be fastened. 
To the front part of the beam connecting the handles in front 
of the wheel, the ram is attached; this should be covered 
with leather stuffed with furniture moss, a dozen or more 
thicknesses of old hat, leather or other substance, being care- 
ful to use no more than necessary to protect the tree from 
bruising. Ascertain the elevation the handles should have 
in driving, and support them in that position. We now put 
in place the stockers, or arms, six for each side, which are to 
receive and support the canvass. We put the front arms in 
position. These extend back to near the centre of the wheel 
on each side, and in front of the wheel (for large machines), 
say six feet, and far enough apart to receive the largest tree 
between them on which it is to operate. The remaining arms 
are supported on the handles, and fastened to them and to 
the two cross and parallel pieces in rear of the wheel. These 
are so placed as to divide the space at their outer ends equally 
between them and the first mentioned stretchers and fastened 
to the ends of the handles. Next, we have ready a strip of 
half-inch board two and a half wide. One end of this is se- 
cured to the forward end of one of the front arms, and in 
like manner to all the others on one side of the machine, and 
fastened to the bundles. Both sides are made alike. The 
office of these strips is to hold the outside ends of the arms 
in position; they also prevent the front arms from closing. 
These outside strips also receive the outside edge of the can- 
vass, which is fastened to them as well as to the several arm 
supports. 



THE PEACH. 271 

" It will be seen that the wheel is nearly in the centre of 
the machine. To cover the opening at this point, a frame is 
raised over it, which is also covered with canvass- The arms, 
or stretchers, are so covered that the motion of the machine, 
in moving from one tree to another, should bring everything 
falling on the canvass to depressed points, one on each side 
of the wheel, where openings are made into funnels emptying 
into pockets or bags, for the reception of insects and fallen 
fruit. The whole machine should not exceed ten or eleven 
feet in breadth, by twelve or thirteen in length. These are 
for large orchard trees; smaller ones could be protected by 
a much smaller machine. If the frame work has been pro- 
perly balanced, the machine will require but little lifting and 
will be nearly propelled by its own weight. 

"This curculio catcher, or machine, is run against the tree 
three or four times, with sufficient force to impart a decided 
jarring motion to all its parts. The operator then backs far 
enough to bring the machine to the centre of the space be- 
tween the rows, turns round and in like manner buts the tree 
in the opposite row. In this way, a man may operate on 
three hundred trees per hour." 

To run this machine successfully three things are necessary : 
1st. That the land be decently clean, and not over grown with 
rank weeds. 2nd. That the orchard be sufficiently large to 
pay the interest on the prime cost of the machine — about $30. 
3rd. That the trees have a clean trunk of some three or four 
feet. I find various modifications of this machine, both in 
our own State and Southern Illinois, and in some instances 
they have been abandoned entirely on account of the injury 
caused to the trees from the repeated blows given to the trunk. 
In small orchards it will be found most profitable to drive a 
spike into the trunk of each tree and to use two sheets stretch- 
ed on frames, which can both be dragged or carried and placed 
in position by one man, while a second person gently taps the 
the iron spike * with a mallet. To .bring down the curculio, 

* A word in regard to the " iron spike"— the use of which it seems to us would do far 
more injury to; the tree than the butting of Dr. Hull's machine, well " padded with old 
hat." Why not riven a spike in a curved block of wood, well padded with old hat, and 
let the operator hold this against the trunk with one hand and give the sudden tap with 
the mallet on the broad-head of the spike with the other hand? 



272 TIIE PEACH. 

it requires a light sudden tap, which jars, rather than a blow 
which shakes, and if the frames are made so as to fold in the 
middle, it will facilitate disposing of those insects which fall 
upon it. 

In conclusion, the intelligent fruit-grower can draw many a 
lesson from this account of the curculio — already somewhat 
lengthy. Thus in planting a new orchard with timber sur- 
rounding, the less valuable varieties should be planted on the 
outside, and as the little rascals congregate on them from the 
neighboring woods in the early part of the season they should 
be fought persistently. It will also pay to thin out all fruit 
that is within easy reach; while, whenever it is practical, 
all rubbish and under-brush should be burnt during the 
Winter, whereby many, yes very many of them, will be 
destroyed in. their winter quarters. As a proof of the value 
of this measure when* it is feasible, I will state that while the 
peach crop of Southern Illinois was almost an entire failure 
in 1868, Messrs Knowles & Co., of Macanda, shipped over 
nine thousand boxes, (9000). Though they had a few hogs 
in the orchard, these were not enough to do any material good, 
and they think they owe their crop to the fact of having 
cleared and burnt 100 acres surrounding the orchard, in the 
early Spring of that year ; for, in 1867 curculios had been 
very bad with them. Judge Kimble, who lives 4 miles north- 
east of Cobden, also had a good crop free from their marks, 
which he attributes to having burnt around the orchard in the 
Spring of the year." 

Having all these measures for defence and protection within 
our reach against the only two insect enemies of any note 
that disturbs the peach tree and its splendid fruit, we can 
very well afford to use some of them to insure remuneration 
and profit in its culture. It is very obvious that the peach, 
is, not only the most delicious and wholesome, but the most 
valuable and saleable fruit that can possibly be- raised in the 
temperate regions of the South — taking into consideration the 
ease and small amount of labor required in its cultivation. 



THE PEACH. 273 

PEACH FAMILY— Catalogue of Varieties* 

It is not our purpose to perplex and bewilder the cultivator 
of this esteemed fruit with the long lists which some authors 
and nurserymen inflict on those who wish to engage in peach 
culture. Our aim is to be really useful, by recommending 
only those varieties whose fine qualities are well known and 
appreciated, whether new or old. There can be no real ad- 
vantage secured by choosing to cultivate a great many sorts, 
from good to bad, merely for the purpose of display or cu- 
riosity. Short lists and fine fruit should be our motto. 

American peaches, when cultivated in England, for want 
of dry atmosphere, sun and heat, generally prove second rate 
in that country, and will not ripen at all unless under glass, 
or indifferently by the side 'of walls. It is also believed that 
many of the best European varieties are much finer here than 
in England, or even in their native soil. In the various lists 
which we have prepared for this work, some choice European 
varieties are included. We have done this, because several 
standard authors think such selection will improve our Ameri- 
can collection by introducing their high qualities. They be- 
lieve some of them to be purer and healthier in constitution 
than many of our native kinds. But, as a general thing, it 
is admitted that our best native varieties are far superior in 
every respect to those of European or foreign origin. 

In describing peaches, the similarity of varieties is so 
nearly identical that writers on this subject have resorted to 
their particular characteristics to enable them to distinguish 
one from another. The natural classes are, free-stones and 
clingstones (melters and pavies), and a small class partaking 
of the peculiarities of each — adhering slightly to the stone. 

The most notable natural distinction is in the leaves. At 
the lower end or base of some kinds, are found small glands, 

* As but little Southern fruit has passed the ordeal of Southern Pomological Societies, 
the selection, classification and description of both apples and peaches are necessarily 
somewhat irregular and defective. This, we hope, will soon be remedied. The great 
increase of fruit culture will require the formation of numerous Societies in all parts. 
As the value of fruits become better understood and the adaptation of tbe various 
Southern regions to all the best fruits becomes better known, Pomology will receive 
the attention it deserves, in a fine fruit-growing country. 

19 



274 THE PEACH. 

generally round, but sometimes irregular and oblong. The 
leaves of other kinds have no glands and are more deeply 
notched or serrated on their margins or edges. These differ- 
ences in the foliage aid the Pomologist in recognizing the dif- 
ferent varieties forming these distinct classes. 

1. Leaves serrated without glands. 

2. Leaves serrated with small round glands. 

3. Leaves with large, ix*regular reniform glands. 

This distinction in the leases is useful, as it aids in verify- 
ing an opinion, when the fruit is examined, any time when 
the foliage can be referred to. 

There is a difference also in the blossoms, which is fixed 
and invariable, affording marked subdivisions in the varieties 
of this fruit. The first has large flowers, always red in the 
centre and pale in the margin. The second has small flow- 
ers, tinged with dark at the margin. 

We shall not follow other authors in dividing peaches into 
"three different and distinct classes," but shall divide them 
into five, and give a short list of varieties composed of each : 

1. Free-stone peaches', with pale flesh. 

2. Free-stone peaches, with deep yellow flesh. 

3. Clingstone peaches. 

4. Varieties that adhere partially to the stone. 

5. Varieties that reproduce the same from the stone. 

Class I. — Free-stone Peaches with pale flesh. 

1. Morris' White. — Rather large ; roundish, inclining to 
oval; suture medicinal, small point; white to the stone, seldom 
a purple tinge in the sun; flesh white, melting, of a rich 
sweet flavor; middle of September. Very popular in warm 
regions. Highly prized for preserving. 

2. Royal George — {P. Mag., Lind., Thomp.) 

In regard to flavor and beauty, this variety is unsurpassed. 
It is one of the finest European peaches, and attains the high- 
est favor in this country. It is a regular and moderate bearer, 
and is one of those varieties indispensable to every fine or- 
chard and garden, ripening directly after the Early York. 

This peach should not be confounded with Early Royal 



THE PEACH. 275 

George, Red Magdalen, Smooth Leaved Royal G-eorge, &c, 
of some Northern nurseries, described by Manning, as these 
have globose glands, and are distinct varieties and not so 
high-flavored and rich. 

Leaves serrated, with glands. Fruit above the middle size, 
globular, broad and depressed, the suture broad and deep at 
the top. Skin pale, or white, thickly sprinkled with red 
dots, and the cheek of a broad rich, deep red, slightly mar- 
bled. Flesh whitish, but very red at the stone, melting, 
juicy, very rich, and of the highest flavor. From the 1st to 
the 20th of August. 

3. Double Montagne — [Downing, Lind., Thomp.) 

A high-flavored and beautiful peach, much resembling the 
Noblesse. It is of French origin, and is a favorite variety 
with English gardeners. We think it one of the finest 
peaches of the Middle States. Leaves serrated, without 
glands. Fruit of medium size, roundish, but somewhat nar- 
rower at the top. Skin pale greenish white, with soft red 
cheek, which is marbled with darker red at maturity. Flesh 
white to the stone, very delicate and melting. Flowers large. 
First of August. 

4. Early Tillotson. — Well deserving the high favor in 
which it is held. 

It is unquestionably one of the most desirable of all the 
early free-stone peaches. . It ripens in the vicinity of Rich- 
mond, from the 15th to 25th of July — full two weeks before 
the Early York, or any of the very choice kinds, and only a 
few days after the Early Anne. It is much higher flavored 
than any peach that ripens previously, or for some days after 
it, and as a garden variety is entitled to universal favor. 
Fruit medium size ; skin dotted in the shade, dark deep red in the 
sun ; flesh whitish, red at the stone, to which it partially ad- 
heres ; juicy, rich, high flavored. Leaves serrated, without 
glands. Tree hardy, and a great and constant bearer. 

5. Early York. — (Serrate Early York.) 

This is one of the most popular peaches in this country, and 
is one of the very best early orchard varieties ; tree hardy 
and very productive ; fruit medium size ; skin greenish white 



276 THE PEACH. 

dotted with red in the shade, dark red to the sun ; flesh 
greenish white, very tender, juicy, rich and excellent. There 
are a few seedings raised from this, and bearing the same 
name, which are rather more thrifty, but do not possess the 
high flavor of the original kind. They are easily known from 
it by the absence of glands in the leaves and by the large 
flowers of the true sort. Last of July and first of August. 

6. Early Anne. — (Down. Lind. Thomp.) 

The Early Anne is an old and familiar sort. It is the first 
peach of any value that ripens. The Red and White nut- 
megs being too small, and of indifferent flavor ; and the Early 
Anne itself is inferior to the Early Tillotson, but it is a few 
days earlier and will be cultivated by all amateurs. The tree 
is of slender growth. Leaves serrated, without glands. Fruit 
rather small, round ; skin white, with a faint tinge of red next 
the sun ; flesh white to the stone, soft, melting, sweet, and of 
pleasant flavor ; flowers very large, nearly white. Profitable 
for early market. 

7. Honey Peach. — Anew variety from South . Carolina? 
where it ripens the last of June. Described as of the finest 
quality, and promising to be very saleable as, an early market 
peach. Oblong, skin yellowish, mottled with red and crim- 
son, of a peculiar honeyed sweetness. 

8. George the Fourth. — [Down. Floy. Lind. Thomp.) 
This is the most popular peach for garden culture in the 

United States. It is large, bears regular and abundant crops, 
is of the highest flavor, and the tree is unusually hardy and 
vigorous, succeeding well in all parts of the country. Leaves 
large, with globose glands, often obscure. Fruit large, round, 
deeply divided by a broad suture, and one half a little larger 
than the other. Skin pale, yellowish white, finely dotted with 
red, and deepening into a dark red cheek on one side. Flesh 
pale, marked with red at the stone, which is small, melting, 
very juicy, with a remarkably rich luscious flavor. Middle 
of August below and around Richmond, Va. 

9. Hales' Early. — A very valuable, extra early peach, of 
recent introduction. Tree a very vigorous grower and abun- 
dant bearer ; fruit medium size, handsome and well flavored, 



THE PEACH. 277 

flush white, ripening a week to ten days early than the Troth's 
Early. This is now the peach for profitable orchard cul- 
ture, where earliness is the object. This Ohio peach is justly 
regarded as the very best earl}'" variety in cultivation. 

10. Early Sweetwater. — [Cole. Down. Floy. Thomp.) 
This is a very early and very agreeable white peach, among the 

best of its season, ripens not long after the Early Anne, and 
ten days or more before the Early York. It is an American 
peach, raised from the stone of the Early Anne. It is so 
much larger and superior to the Early Anne, or any of the 
nutmeg peaches, that it has almost driven them from our gar- 
dens. The tree is thrifty and productive, with pale shoots 
and nearly white blossoms. Fruit medicinal, roundish, whitish ; 
flesh white, juicy, melting sweet; of medium size, frequently 
large, with a slight suture. Skin pale white, very seldom with 
a faint blush when fully exposed; slightly stained with red 
at the stone. 

11. Troth's Early. — A very early and excellent peach, 
medium size ; skin whitish, with a beautiful red cheek— flesh 
juicy, sweet, very fine— one of the most profitable varieties for 
early marketing. We are cultivating it largely for this pur- 
pose. (We quote Franklin Davis & Co., of Richmond Nur- 
series.) Flesh white, resembles the Early York — early part 
of July. 

12. Old Mixon Free. — Pom. Man. OldMixon Olearstone, 
Coxe. 

This is a very large American peach — it matures late and 
is of rich and high flavor. It is supposed to have been raised 
from a seed of the Catharine Cling or the Old Mixon Cling, 
the latter was introduced into this country many years ago, 
by Sir John Oldmixon. It is highly productive and is a very 
valuable variety. It is fair and large, succeeding well in all 
localities, and well deserving the high favor in which it is 
held, as an orchard variety. Skin yellowish-white with" a deep 
red cheek ; flesh white, but red at the stone, tender, rich, 
' excellent. Tree hardy, flowers small, globose glands — Sep- 
tember. 

13. SnowPeach.— A most beautiful fruit, medium size; skin 



278 THE PEACH. 

and flesh clear, creamy -white throughout, Tree hardy and 
productive — blossoms pure white and shoots greenish — very 
distinct — one of the most ^desirable of all the white peaches 
for preserving. This remarkably fair and elegant fruit is of 
American origin. The foliage is a light green — fruit ex- 
ceedingly juicy, melting, with a sweet, rich, sprightly flavor. 
Last of August to middle September. 

14. Druid Hill. — This is a free-stone peach of splendid 
size, high flavor, and very late maturity. It originated with 
L. M. Rogers, of I>ruid Hill, near Baltimore, and was named 
after his country seat, by A. J. Downing, who says, ''We 
know no other late free-stone variety which equals it in flavor 
and size. The tree is unusually vigorous, the shoots and 
leaves very large, and it bears abundantly. The very late 
season of its maturity renders it valuable, as most, of the 
luscious sorts are then gone. Fruit very large, roundish, 
skin pale greenish-white, clouded with red On the sunny side. 
Flesh greenish-white, purple at the stone, very juicy and 
melting, with an exceedingly rich vinous flavor. Flowers 
small, globose glands. Ripens from the 20th of September to 
1st October. 

15. TETON be VENUS. — Large roundish, inclining to oval, 
a broad suture dividing all around ; pale yellowish green, pale 
red cheek, juicy, melting, exquisite flavor. One of the very 
b est free-stones — September. 

1(3. Red Rare Ripe. — A fine old variety. Large, Red Rare 
Ripe of some — Early Red Rare Ripe — White, "with a dark red 
cheek, flesh pale, rich and high flavored, red at the stone, 
melting, juicy, very high flavored ; flowers small ; fruit rather 
laree, globular, but broad : leaves serrated — without glands. 
August. 

" It must be observed that this is totally different, both 
from thelZarty York and Morris's Red Rare Ripe, with which 
it is often confounded by some nurserymen. The fruit is 
larger, broader and a week later than the first ; and its ser- 
rated leaves and different flavor, separate it widely from the 
latter." 



THE PEACH. 279 

17. President. — P. Mag. Lind. Thomp. 

A fine variety. Fruit large, roundish oval, the suture 
shallow. Skin very downy, pale yellowish green, with red 
dull cheek, juicy, rich and high flavored ; stone very rough, 
flowers small. Matures early in September. (Can be ob- 
tained at both the Nurseries near Richmond) and at other 
Nurseries in Virginia, and at Franklin Davis & Co's Nursery 
at Goldsboro, North Carolina. 

18. Late Red Rare Ripe. — Downing. 

This noble American fruit is unquestionably one of the very 
finest of all peaches, even surpassing the Late Admirable. 
Its large size, and great excellence ; its late maturity, and its 
productiveness and vigor, all unite to recommend it to uni- 
versal favor. We cannot praise it too highly. The rather 
grayish appearance of the fruit serves to distinguish it at first 
sight from all others. 

Leaves with globose glands ; fruit large and heavy, round- 
ish oval, suture depressed only at the top, where the swollen 
point is distinctly sunken. Skin downy, pale grayish yellow, 
thickly marbled and covered with reddish spots ; cheek dull 
deep red, distinctly mottled with fawn-colored specks. Flesh 
white, but deep red at the stone ; very juicy, melting, and of 
an unusually rich, luscious flavor, not surpassed by any other 
peach. Last of August to 1st of September. 

19. Royal Hensixgton (Grosse Mignonne) — 0. Duh., 
Lind., Thomp. 

The "world-renowned" of peaches. Not only highly es- 
teemed in France, its native country, but in England and 
America. It is among the most popular and considered the 
most superb peach in cultivation. The great number of 
names by which it is known abroad, and we have only quoted 
two of them, proves the universality of its cultivation. It is 
a large and very handsome fruit ; is a great and regular bearer, 
ripens well under glass, and will flourish even in unfavorable 
climates. Leaves with globose glands. Fruit roundish, some- 
what depressed, marked with a hollow suture or seam at the 
top. Skin pale greenish yellow, mottled with red, with pur- 
plish red cheek. Flesh yellowish white, marked with red at 



280 THE PEACH. 

the stone ; melting, juicy, with a very rich, high, vinous fla- 
vor. Stone small and very rough. Middle of August, be- 
fore the Royal George. The flowers are very large. 
i 20. Tuft's Rareripe. — Medicinal; roundish, yellowish, 
with a bright red cheek. Flesh melting, very sweet and 
luscious. Free-stone. Very hardy, vigorous and productive. 
Globose glands. Produces the same from the seed. We 
have hundreds of seedlings, all perfectly uniform (we quote 
Coles). Middle of September. 

21. Morris' Red Rareripe — Large Red Ripe, Early 
Red Rareripe of some. — Large, roundish, expressed at top, 
distinct suture, greenish white, bright red cheek, flesh green- 
ish white, red at the stone ; very melting and juicy, with fine, 
sweet, rich flavor. Free-stone, globose glands, small flow- 
ers. This fruit is highly esteemed in Virginia and the Caro- 
linas and farther South. Originated near Philadelphia by 
Robert Morris, Esq., and was disseminated from his gardens. 
It is everywhere esteemed for its fine flavor, beauty and pro- 
ductiveness. Some American writers have erred in suppos- 
ing it synonymous with the Grosse Mignonne, which is quite 
different, both in color of its skin and flesh, as well as in fla- . 
vor and blossoms.. Ripe in August. 

22. Anna Ruffin. — This is said to be a splendid variety 
and eminently adapted to Southern climates. The author has 
not been able to get a fair description of it, but from report 
no Southern garden or orchard should be without it. 

23. Heath Free-stodje. — Kenrick's Heath. Ken. 
.This variety very much resembles the Heath Cling, so 

celebrated in the South. It is large, showy, oblong, growing 
to the very largest size, and a very hardy tree. The quality 
of the fruit at the North is second-rate, but in the fine peach 
regions of the South it is very fine. Its remarkable size and 
appearance is an offset to any deficiency in flavor. Flesh 
greenish white, deep red at the stone, a little coarse, melting, 
tender, juicy, with a very pleasant sub-acid flavor. Flowers 
small. Early in September. 

24. La Grange — [Bouming). 

Leaves with uniform glands. Fruit large, oblong, shaped 



THE PEACH. 281 

somewhat like the Heath Cling. Skin greenish white, with 
occasionally some red on the sunny side. Flesh pale, juicy, 
melting, very rich, sweet, high-flavored and delicious. Mid- 
dle to last of September. Flowers small. 

This fine white free-stone peach was originated near Bur- 
lington, New Jersey. Its period of nativity [early in October 
there), its color, its productiveness and fine size, have given 
it a reputation among the extensive growers of New Jersey; 
and it is, undoubtedly, a most valuable fruit, not only for the 
table, but for preserving at the most desirable time for this 
purpose — late in the season. Its flavor is remarkably rich 
and delicious, equaling, in this respect, almost any peach of 
its season of maturity. 

25. Ward's Late. — This is a fine, late, free-stone variety, 
ripening from the middle to last of September. The tree is 
vigorous and productive, and the fruit generally of large size. 
Skin white, with a fine crimson cheek, flesh white to the 
stone (splendid for preserving), juicy, melting and excellent. 

2b'. Belle de Vitry. — Medium to large, rather broad, 
with a deep suture, top depressed, pale yellowish white, tinged 
and marbled with bright and dull red; firm, melting, red at 
the stone, juicy and rich. Free-stone. Leaves serrated, 
without glands. Free-growing and hardy. This is not the 
Belle de Vitry of most Northern orchards and gardens, which 
is the Early Admirable ; nor is it the Late Admirable — but is 
a distinct variety. It is the Belle de Vitry described by 
Diihamel, and is a firm-fleshed and most excellent peach. 
September. (Bah., Lind., Thomp.) 

27. Belle Garde— (0. DuL, Lind., Thomp.) 

This fine fruit bears many French and English names, and 
we will not bother our readers by enumerating them, it being 
better known in this country by the one we have selected. 

This splendid French peach is one of the most popular in 
the. Paris markets, and it is highly esteemed by the English. 
It is also one of the handsomest and most delicious fruits here. 

Leaves with globose glands. Fruit large, round and regu- 
lar, the suture shallow, the top slightly hollowed, and having 
a little projecting point. Skin pale yellowish green, with a 



282 THE PEACH. 

rich red cheek, often streaked with dark purple. Flesh 
slightly marked with red at the stone, a little firm, but very' 
melting, juicy, rich and high-flavored. Stone rather large. 
Flowers small. Middle of August. 

28. Nutmeg, White — (Mill., Lind., Thomp., Down., 0. 
Duh.) 

The White Nutmeg is a very small and rather inferior 
peach. It is dwarfish in habit and of slender growth. It is 
esteemed by the curious as ripening a few days earlier than 
any other variety, and is earlier and better further South. 

Leaves serrated, without glands. Fruit very small. Skin 
white, rarely with a pale blush. Flesh white to the stone, 
with a sweet and slightly musky flavor. Ripens from the 
first to the tenth of July. Flowers large. 

29. Nutmeg, Red. — This resembles the foregoing in its 
general habit. It is desirable in a complete collection. Both 
this and the foregoing are European varieties. 

Leaves small, with reniform glands. Fruit small. Skin 
pale yellow, with a bright rich red cheek. Flesh yellowish 
white, red at the stone, with a sweet and rather pleasant fla- 
vor. Season middle- of July. 

30. Large Yelloav York. — (Neiv York Rareripe, of 
Coxe.) 

A large and beautiful peach. Skin white, with a deep red 
cheek. Flesh nearly white, very juicy, fine grained, with a 
mild, rich, excellent flavor. The tree is vigorous and produc- 
tive. Leaves with globose glands. Origin, Flushing, New 
York. Matures early in August. This is a valuable and 
showy peach, well worthy a place in every good collection. 

31. The Gorgas. — Originated with Benjamine Gullip, in 
Philadelphia, from a stone of the " Morris White." Size two 
and a half inches by two and three quarters ; roundish, with 
a slight prominence at the apex ; dull greenish white, clouded 
and blotched with red on the exposed side ; cavity wide, rather 
deep, freestone, flush whitish, slightly stained at the stone, 
juicy; flavor saccharine and exceedingly luscious ; quality 
best ; period September. 

32. Noblesse. — Synonyms. — Lord Montague's Noblesse, 



THE PEACH. 283 

Mellishe's Favorite, Canguerd, Noblest, Double Montague. 
(Description by Elliott.) 

Size above medium to large ; form roundish, sometimes 
with a roundish oblong, and the point at apex quite promi- 
nent. Skin, pale greenish white, marbled and streaked with 
two shades of dull red in the sun, occasional faint blotches of 
red on the shaded side; flesh, greenish white, very juicy, 
melting, with a rich, delicious flavor ; stone, large, pointed, 
separates freely from the flesh, and without any stain of red ; 
season, early in September. 

Tree, moderately slow grower at the North, and somewhat 
liable to mildew when not in good ground. At the South it 
grows vigorously, and does not mildew. The flowers are large 
and the leaves serrated without glands. Originated in France. 

Remarks. — The Noblesse is one of the old varieties whose 
good qualities have as yet been unsurpassed by any of recent 
origin. It is of the richest and highest flavor, and being en- 
tirely white at th6 stone, is quite desirable for canning or 
preserving. 

Note. — According to Berckmans, "in Georgia, the earliest peaches 
begin to ripen the middle of June, and the season is often prolonged 
until the middle of November, a period of five months. Cling stones 
are a favorite class, but if picked before maturity, they do not ripen well 
and are apt to shrivel ; and if left on the trees until fully ripe, they are 
unsuitable for shipping, and hence adapted to home use. Free stones 
must be raised for marketing. 

Class II. — Free-stone Peaches ivith deep yellow flesh. 

Peaches of this class are nearly all of American origin. 
The Yellow Alberge of Europe is considered the original 
type from which the various sorts and modifications of this 
class have been derived. They are not esteemed as being so 
rich and highly-flavored as the class alrea'iy described, and 
do not succeed so well in Northern latitudes, as it requires 
the long hot summers of more Southern climes to develop 
their high, luscious, juicy and exquisite qualities. In cold 
climates they become somewhat acid and unpleasant. In 
England, for lack of dry atmosphere, sun and warmth, they 



284 THE PEACH. 

prove inferior, and also at the northern limits of peach cul- 
ture in this countrj. They are rather more liable to the 
depredations of insects and more apt to suffer from the "yel- 
lows ;" but these objections have but little weight when it is 
recollected they are superior in sweet, melting, vinous and 
medicinal qualities to Class I. 

33. Crawford's Early. — (Crawford's Early 3felocoton* 
Ken.) 

A magnificent, large, yellow peach of fine quality. Tree 
exceedingly vigorous and prolific ; its size, beauty and pro- 
ductiveness make it one of the most popular of early varie- 
ties. Downing says: "This is the most splendid and excel- 
lent of all early yellow-fleshed peaches. As a market variety 
it is the most popular of the clay, and it is deserving of the 
high favor in which it is held by all growers of the peach." 
It was originated by William Crawford, Esq., of Middletown, 
New Jersey. 

Fruit very large size; flesh very juicy, rich, slightly sub- 
acid, of fine flavor, the suture shallow, skin yellow, flesh yel- 
low, melting, sweet and very excellent. Flowers small. Au- 
gust. 

34. Crawford's Late. — (Crawford's Melocoton. Craw- 
ford's superb Malacatune.) 

From the same source as the foregoing. A superb yellow 
variety, very large, rich, splendid flavor — productive. As a 
general thing the fruit is extremely large, roundish, with a 
slight suture. Flesh deep yellow, but red at the stone, juicy 
and melting, with a very rich, and excellent vinous flavor. 
September. 

As a splendid and productive market fruit, it is unrivalled; 
and its size, beauty and excellence will give it a place in 
every garden. 

35. Yellow Alberge. — (Yelloiv Rare Ripe. Thomp., 
Downing. ) 

The Yellow Alberge, a Yellow Rare Ripe of many Ameri- 
can nurseries and gardens, and is also known by other names, 
is an old French variety, and one of the earliest of the yel- 

* Melocoton is Spanish, for peach. 



THE PEACH. 285 

low-fleshed peaches. "It is, no doubt," says Downing, "the 
original sort from which our Molocotons and Yellow Rare 
Ripes have sprung in this country." Although it is consid- 
ered by some as second-rate in flavor, yet in rich warm soils 
and farther South, it is very superior in both size and quality, 
and very productive. 

Leaves with globose glands. Fruit large, roundish, with a 
well marked seam or furrow running half round. Skin yel- 
low, with a very deep, purplish red cheek. Flesh yellow, 
but red at the stone — soft, juicy, sweet, with a pleasant vinous 
flavor. Julv 20th to middle of August. 

36. Braynard's Yellow. — [Allan $> Johnson.) 

A new and very large yellow peach, of splendid quality, 
rich and juicy. We regret not being prepared to fully de- 
scribe it ; but it is represented as being among the very first 
as to quality. 

37. Red-Cheek Melocoton. — (Coles, Allan, Davis.) 
Large, roundish, oval, a swollen point; yellow; a deep red 

cheek; flesh yellow, with red at the stone; melting, juicy, 
rich, of a vinous flavor, frequently too acid at the North; 
well adapted to Southern States ; very productive. This is a 
famous old and well known popular Southern variety, exten- 
sively cultivated as a market fruit. 

38. Yellow Rare Ripe.— Large Yellow Rare Ripe— Marie 
Antoinette. — Down. 

One of the finest, very early yellow fleshed peaches. It is 
an American seedling, and well deserves the extensive culti- 
vation it receives, both in the orchard and garden. Leaves 
with globose glands. Fruit large, roundish, the suture slight- 
ly depressed, extending more than half round ; the swollen 
point at the top small. Skin deep orange yellow, somewhat 
dotted with red, cheek rich red, shaded off in streaks. Flesh 
deep yellow, but red at the stone ; juicy, melting, with a 
rich and excellent vinous flavor ; stone small, flowers small. 
Last of July. 

This must not be confounded with the Yellow Malagatune, 
or Yellow Rare Ripe of some orchards, which is a much infe- 
rior and an older sort, whose fruit is below medium, with 



286 THE PEACH. 

scarcely any red, and inferior in every respect to the kind 
we have just described. 

39. Columbia. — Coxe, Down. (Georgia Peach, Indian 
Peach.) 

The Columbia, according to Downing, is a singular and 
peculiar peach. " It was raised by Mr. Coxe, the author of 
the first American work on fruit trees, from a seed brought 
from Georgia. It is a very excellent fruit, which every ama- 
teur will desire to have in his garden. The tree is not a very 
rapid grower, and bears only moderate crops, being, of course, 
all the less subject to speedy decay. The young wood is 
purple." 

Leaves with reniform glands ; fruit quite large, globular, 
broad and much depressed ; suture distinct, extending half 
way round ; skin rough and rather thick, (almost curculio 
proof,) dull dingy red, sprinkled with spots and streaks of 
darker red ; flesh very bright yellow, of the texture, as Coxe 
remarks, of a very ripe pine-apple, rich, juicy, and of very 
excellent flavor. Latter part of August. 

40. Smock's Free. — Hen. Down. 

In some nurseries this is known as St. George, and is an • 
October peach at the North. It is quite popular as an orch- 
ard fruit. It was originated by Mr. Smock, of Middletown, 
New Jersey, the centre of peach cultivation of that region. 

Leaves with reniform glands. Fruit large, oval, narrowed 
towards the sides ; skin light orange yellow, mottled with red, 
or often with a dark red cheek, when fully exposed ; flesh 
bright yellow, but red at the stone; moderately juicy, rich. 
Last of September and first of October. 

41. Pools' Large Yellow. — Hen. Down. 

A very large and excellent deep yellow peach, with a dark 
red cheek, of fine quality ; fruit roundish, with a suture ex- 
tending from the base to the top ; skin deep yellow, flesh 
yellow, but red at the stone, rich, juicy, and of excellent 
flavor. It is of the Malacoton family, and is worthy of ex- 
tensive cultivation. It originated near Philadelphia, and bears 
heavy crops. Tree hardy ; leaves with reniform gland. Mid- 
dle of September. 



THE PEACH. 287 

42. Hatch.— Coles. (Originated by S. 0. Hatch, Ct.) 
Very large; roundish,, pointed, shallow suture; skin deep 

yellow, flush in the sun ; flesh yellow, melting sweet and ex- 
cellent; free-stone, ft produces the same from seed, which, 
with its earliness, hardiness, and superior quality, renders it 
an admirable' peach. We have hundreds of seedlings perfect- 
ly uniform. Globose glands. Middle of August. 

43. Bergen's Yellow. — Down. 

Bergen's Yellow is a native we believe of Long Island. It 
is a very large fruit, and of very delicious flavor. It is darker 
colored, more depressed in form, rather finer flavored, and 
ripens some days k*er than the Yellow Rare Ripe, which it 
much resembles. ' It is a moderate but good bearer. It is 
earlier, and much superior to the Malacoton, and its glands 
distinguish it also from that variety. 

Leaves with uniform glands. Fruit very large (often meas- 
uring 9 inches in circumference,) globular, depressed and 
broad; the suture well marked, and extending half round; 
skin deep orange, dotted with same red, and with a very 
broad dark red cheek; flesh deep yellow, melting juicy, and 
of rich and luscious flavor ; flowers small. Ripens latter part 
of August. 

44. Baltimore Beauty. — A very good and remarkably 
handsome peach, of native origin — originated near Baltimore. 
Leaves with globose glands ; fruit rather small ; roundish, 
oval ; skin deep orange, with a brilliant red cheek ; flesh yel- 
low, but red at the stone — sweet, very good, a little mealy if 
over ripe ; flowers large. Last of July and first of August. 

45. Tuft's Rare Ripe. — Medicinal, roundish, yellowish, 
with bright red cheek ; flesh yellow, melting, very sweet and 
luscious ; free-stone ; very hardy, vigorous, and productive ; 
globose glands. Produces exactly the same from the seed, 
and all its seedlings are perfectly uniform — hence the value of 
this fine variety — it saves grafting. 

46. Merriam. — Extremely large, short, oval, light yellow, 
bright red cheek ; flesh yellow, red at the stone, melting, very 
juicy — of a sweet luscious flavor, of the first rank in size, beauty 



288 THE PEACH. 

and quality ; globose glands ; new and promising. Last of 
September. 

47. Heath Free. — Avery large September peach. A seed- 
ling of Southern origin ; matures only in the South. In some 
situations this is a very fine peach. It somewhat resembles 
the Heath Cling, externally. Fruit large, skin white, flesh 
white, very juicy, tender, with excellent flavor. Early in 
September. 

48. Susquehanna. — A very large, new and superb yellow 
peach ; melting, sweet, juicy, with a rich vinous flavor ; skin 
rich yellow, with a beautiful red cheek ; very handsome. 
August and September. 

This new and valuable peach originated on the banks of the 
Susquehanna in Pennsylvania. It is a great favorite where- 
ever known. Fruit of the largest size, sometimes measuring 
twelve inches in circumference. The best of all the yellow 
fleshed peaches. Free-stone. 

49. Heath. — Heath Cling, Red Heath, Fine Heath, White 
Heath.* — Coxe, Down. 

The most superb and most delicious of all late Cling-stones. 
It will not ripen in New England, but all through the Middle, 
and Southern States, it is one of the most marketable and 
valuable kinds, of very large size, and the very finest flavor. 

Mr. Coxe informs us that this is a seedling produced in 
Maryland from a stone brought by Mr. Daniel Heath from 
the Mediterranean, and it is still frequently propagated from 
the stone without variation in that state. The tree is vigorous, 
long lived and moderately productive. With the shortening- 
in mode of pruning, the fruit is always large and very fine, 
otherwise it often becomes rather poor. This tree is placed 
by espalier, rail or wall at the North, and can be matured in 
that way. 

Leaves nearly smooth on the edges, with reniform glands. 
Fruit very large, oblong, narrowing to both ends, and termi- 
nating at the top with a large swollen point ; the suture dis- 
tinct on one side ; skin downy, cream-colored white, with a 
faint blush or tinge of red in the sun, or a brownish cheek ; 

* At the Hermitage Nurseries, Richmond, this is called the W hite Heath. 



THE PEACH. 289 

flesh greenish white, very tender and melting, exceedingly 
juicy, with the richest, highest, and most luscious flavor, sur- 
passed by no other variety. It adheres closely to the stone. 
It ripens in September and October, and frequently, keeps 
a month after being gathered. Flowers small. 

50. Monstrous Pavie. — Bon., Jard., Lelicur, Thomp., 
Coles, Down. 

This is an old French variety of many names. It is not 
esteemed at the North except on account of its size. It will 
not ripen north of Philadelphia unless protected by walls, and 
is especially a southern fruit. This is perhaps synonymous 
with the Monstrous Cling of the West. It is a very late peach, 
of good flavor in the South, but rather coarse and wanting 
flavor at the North. Its extremely large size and showy ap- 
pearance render it quite salable. 

Leaves with reniform glands ; fruit extremely large, round- 
ish, oval, with a well marked suture extending to the top, and 
terminating there in an obtruse swollen point ; skin yellowish 
white, a good deal covered with the broad very deep red color 
of its cheek ; flesh firm, yellowish white, deep red at the 
stone, to which it adheres very firmly, and which is very 
small. Juicy, good flavor, beautiful ; flowers large. No 
amateur peach grower should fail to procure this variety for 
his orchard or garden. This splendid peach matures the last 
of October in the Middle States ; middle of October in Vir- 
ginia and North Carolina, and is especially adapted to the 
southern part of the Western States and farther South. 

51. Large Whtte Cling. — Floy. Down. 

This is the most popular cling-stone peach of the North — 
said to be superior in that climate to the Catharine and Old 
Newington, and only inferior in flavor to the Heath and Old 
Mixon Clings. It is a native of New York, and was first in- 
troduced by Floy as the New York Cling-stone. This is the 
great favorite for preserving in brandy or sugar. The tree is 
said to be remarkably hardy and long lived and seldom attack- 
ed by the Yellows. 

Leaves with globose glands ; fruit large, round ; the suture 
slight, and the swollen point at the top small ; skin white, in- 
20 



290 THE PEACH. 

dining to yellow only when over ripe ; dotted with red on 
the sunny side, or with a light red cheek when fully exposed ; 
flesh whitish, tender, very melting, full of juice, which is very 
sweet, luscious, and high flavored ; flowers small. Beginning 
and middle of September. 

52. Lemon Cling. — Floy. Thompson. Down. Kennedy's 
South Carolina. Pom Man. Long Pine Apple Cling. Ooxe. 
Pine Apple. Yellow Pine Apple. 

This is the largest of all the yellow fleshed Clings. It is 
also the finest and most beautiful of this class. It is a native 
of South Carolina, and was brought to New York by Mr. 
Kennedy before the war of the Revolution. There are many 
seedlings in all parts of the country from this fine variety, 
but none superior to the original. The tree is a free grower, 
very hardy and productive. 

Leaves very long with reniform glands. Fruit large, ob- 
long, narrowed at the top, and having a large projecting, 
swollen point, much like that of a lemon ; skin fine yellow, 
with a dark brownish red cheek ; flesh firm, yellow, slightly 
red at the stone, adhering firmly, with a rich and sprightly 
vinous subacid flavor ; flowers small. September. 

53. Old Mixon Cling-stone. — Ooxe. Down. Coles. Green 
Catharine of the Americans. Thomp. 

One of the highest flavored and most valuable of all peaches 
known in this country, where it is raised in perfection, and 
should have a place in every orchard and garden. One of 
the best American authors says, " We consider this, the 
Large White Cling, and the Heath Cling, and the Lemon 
Cling, as including all that are valuable for small collections. 
This fruit is quite distinct from the Catharine Cling of Europe, 
or the Old Newington, as a single glance at its leaf glands 
will show, to say nothing of its superior flavor. It can scarce- 
ly be the ' Green Catharine of the Americans' of the London 
Horticultural Society's Catalogue, as that is said to be a poor 
fruit. We are not familiar with it." Coxe says that the Old 
Mixon Cling was introduced by Sir John Old Mixon, from 
Europe. It is more probable that he introduced the stone 
only. 



THE PEACH. 291 

Leaves with globose glands ; large yellowish-white, dotted 
with red on a beautiful red cheek ; flesh pale white, very 
melting and juicy, with an exceeding rich, luscious flavor, one 
of the highest flavored and most valuable peaches cultivated ; 
flowers small. Last of August. 

54. Red Magdalen. — Large, round and regular, pale yel- 
lowish green with rich red cheek, firm, melting, juicy, and 
high flavored ; an excellent variety. Cling. August. 

55. Chinese Cling. — Fruit large, roundish oval ; skin 
transparent, cream color, with marbling of red next the sun ; 
flesh creamy white, very juicy and melting, with a rich and 
very agreeable flavor, every orchard should have a few of this 
variety. 

56. Newington, Cling, (English). — One of the best early 
Cling-Stone peaches. 

57. Tippecanoe. — Very large, yellow, with red cheek, juicy 
and rich — nearly round with a point ; broad cheek, flesh yel- 
low", of a fine vinous flavor. Rather late for the Northern 
States ; fine in the South and South-west ; excellent for 
the table and of superior quality for preserves. Tree vigorous 
and a great bearer. Reniform glands, small flowers. Matures 
in the Middle States from the first to middle of October. 
Farther South first of October. 

58. Brenneman Cling. — Large ; skin yellow, with con- 
siderable red on the sunny side ; flesh yellow, juicy sweet, and 
high flavored ; very valuable. September. 

59. Grand Admirable. — Full medium size; skin white, 
nearly covered with red ; this is a very nice and good peach, 
and is an early cling. August. 

60. Smith's Newington. — Lind. Thomp. Down. Early 
Newington — Smith's Early Newington of the English. Early 
Newington — Coxe. 

This fine, early cling-stone peach, is of English origin. It 
is one of the very best early clings. The Early Newington 
of our orchards is a splendid free-stone (or rather it adheres 
partially to the stone) ; it has in a measure supplanted this 
cling-stone. It is also much earlier. 

Leaves serrated, without glands ; fruit rather above middle 



292 THE PEACH. 

size, oval, narrow at the top, and one half a little enlarged ; 
skin, pale straw color, with a lively red cheek streaked with 
purple ; flesh firm, pale yellow, but light red at the stone, to 
which it adheres closely ; juicy and of fine quality. Middle 
of August 

61. Catharine. — Long. Liyid. P. Mag. Thomp. Down. 
This is an excellent English variety. Some authors have 

remarked that this cling cannot be distinguished from the Old 
Newington, (Smith's) and Old Mixon Cling. But they are 
distinct varieties, as may be known by the glands of the leaves, 
which, unerringly, distinguish all varieties. Leaves with reni- 
form glands; fruit large, roundish, oval; skin pale yellowish 
green, sprinkled with red dots; flesh yellowish white, dark 
red at the stone ; cheek bright lively red. Middle of Sept. 

62. Orange Cling. — Large, handsome, excellent; resem- 
bles the Lemon Cling, but richer in flavor and quite a distinct 
fruit. 

Leaves serrated, without glands ; fruit large, round ; skin . 
deep orange with rich dark red cheek ; flesh deep or dark 
yellow, rather firm, juicy with a delicious, vinous flavor ; small 
flowers. Early in September. 

Class IV. — Varieties partially adhering to the stone. 

63. Early Tillotson. — This fine early variety which we 
have already described as a free-stone, is properly of this 
class. All who wish a fine early peach should cultivate this 
variety. July. 

64. Early Newington, (of the Americans) Newington 
peach. Doivn. 

This is a large and exceedingly high flavored peach ; indeed 
we consider it without a superior at the season of its maturity, 
which is about the first of August. It is distinct from the 
other Newingtons, which are perfect clings and much later. 
If not fully ripe, it adheres to the stone — although it is classed 
by most authors with free-stone peaches. This partial ad- 
hesion is a very distinguishing character of this variety. 
Leaves with reniform glands ; fruit large, round, one half the 



THE PEACH. 293 

fruit always larger ; skin pale, yellowish white, streaked with 
red, rich red cheek ; flesh white, red at the stone ; rich vinous 
and juicy. 

65. Washington. — Washington Red Free-stone. — Floy. 
Ken. Down. 

This is a very handsome and delicious peach ; originated 
in New York about seventy years ago. The tree is vigorous, 
hardy and very productive, and it is altogether a most valu- 
able fruit. 

Fruit large and broad, somewhat depressed, suture deep, 
globose glands ; thin yellowish white skin, with a beautiful 
deep crimson cheek ; flesh pale, rather yellowish, tender, 
juicy and melting, With a sweet, very rich and luscious flavor. 
It adheres considerably to the stone, slightly so when very 
ripe, stone very small ; flowers small. Season first of Sept. 

66. Atlanta, New. — Originated by Dr. E. Ware Sylves- 
ter, of Lyons, Wayne Co., New York. Fruit, according to 
Elliott, of medium to large size ; skin white, with a dark, 
almost purplish red cheek; flesh white, juicy, rich, adhering 
slightly to the stone, of excellent, almost best quality. 

Class V. — Varieties producing the same from the seed. 

61. White Blossomed Incomparable. — P.Man. Thomp. 
Down. White Blossomed. 

This is an American fruit, quality not quite so fine as the 
Snow Peach, which it resembles. The seeds produce the same 
variety. The flowers, are very white, and the leaves very 
light green, with reniform glands, wood, pale yellow ; fruit 
quite large, rather oval ; skin fair, clear, white throughout ; 
flesh perfectly white to the stone, melting, juicy, very sweet 
and pleasant ; flowers large. Matures last of August. 

68. Hatch. — Coles. 

This very large, fine, free-stone peach (already described) 
produces the same from the seed. " We have hundreds of 
seedlings (we quote Coles) perfectly uniform. 

69. Briggs.— (Coles.) 

Large, flatish round ; suture nearly all round, white, nearly 



294 THE PEACH. 

covered with white red ; flesh white, tinged with red at the 
stone ; very juicy, of a rich, sweet, slightly vinous flavor ; 
hardy. Has produced its like from the seed for twenty years. 
Last of August. (We consider this a valuable variety that 
does not require the delay and trouble of grafting.) 

70. Hale's Melocoton. — Large, medicinal, oblong, flat at 
the base, slight suture on one side ; bright yellow ; flesh yel- 
low, of a very sweet and excellent quality. Keeps well ; 
free-stone ; matures last of August. Produces the same from 
the seed. 

71. Allen's Walpole Melocoton. — Allen's Walpole. 
Aliens. 

Small, roundish, white, red cheek, flesh white, very juicy, 
of pleasant vinous flavor ; hardy and a great bearer. Has 
been raised for forty years from the seed uniformly true. 

72. Tuft's Rareripe. — (Coles.) 

This valuable free-stone peach (already described) produces 
invariably the same from the seed. 

73. Batchelder. — (Coles.) 

Large, round, white, with a deep blush ; flesh white, melt- 
ing, juicy, very pleasant, rich, vinous flavor. Should be well 
ripened on the tree ; very hardy ; produces crops when many 
others fail ; reproduces itself uniformly from the seed. We 
have young trees all uniform and the same as the parents. 
(Our authority for this is Mr. Coles of the American Fruit 
Book.) 

74. Heath Cling. — White Heath Cling, White English, 
Eliza Thomas, White Grlobe, Henrietta, etc., etc. 

This is the most delicious and superb of all seedlings, (already 
described.) It is a native of Maryland from seed brought 
from the Mediterranean. It is still propagated from the 
stone, generally with undeviating sameness, which renders 
the tree more hardy and durable than if grafted, and adds 
greatly to the value of this splendid fruit. 

75. Columbia. — Coxe. (Already described. 

This fine yellow free-stone peach was originated by Mr. 
Coxe, from a seed brought from Georgia. In consequence of 
its rough and thick skin, it is rather too much for the curculio, 



THE PEACH. 295 

and is in a great degree exempt from his depredations. Its 
value is also greatly enhanced from the fact that it is one of 
the best varieties that reproduces itself invariably from the 
seed. 

76. Lemon Cling-. — Synonym. Pine Apple, Kennedy s 
Caroline, Early L. Cling. 

This is a native of South Carolina, and the finest, most 
beautiful and largest of all yellow fleshed clings. Reproduces 
the same from seed. 

77. Old Mixon Cling. — This is one of the finest and 
highest flavored of all white flushed peaches known in this 
country. Always the same from the seed. 

78. Hartshorn. — Coles. 

Large, roundish, oval; rich, yellow, deep blush; flesh has 
a peculiar coarse grain, that fits it admirably for preserves. 
Sacharine and pleasant ; produces the same from the seed ; 
from first to middle October. 

BLOOD PEACHES. 

79. Blood Cling. — Floy. Down. 

An extremely large and peculiar fruit, much esteemed for 
pickling and preserving, to which it is well adapted. Flesh 

Note.—" The Heath (says Mr. H. C. Williams, of Falls Church, Fair- 
fax county, Va.) has been in my father's family for more than seventy 
years, grown all the time from the seed. There are other varieties of 
peaches, such as the Columbia, Old Mixon Cling, etc., whose individual 
character is so strongly impressed upon them that they appear to refuse 
a union with others, and hence they will almost invariably, or in a great 
majority of cases, reproduce themselves from their own kernels. 

In Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas, the Heath is called the u English 
Peach" from the circumstance that Col. Hamilton, who is mentioned 
in Lee's memoirs as an officer in the Revolutionary war, and afterwards 
Consul at Norfolk, having brought stones of this peach from Scotland, 
distributed them among his old neighbors in Caswell or Person county, 
North Carolina, where he had been a merchant previous to the war. 

Cox ascribes the introduction of this peach from the Mediterranean to 
a Mr. Heath. The two peaches are identically the same, and its con- 
stant habit of reproducing itself without variation, proves its universal 
popularity, and tends to confirm the history of its appearance in this 
country at two points remote from each other. A Heath seedling makes 
the best stock for budding of any of our fine varieties." 



296 THE PEACH. 

very red, like that of the beet ; skin very downy, and of a 
dark gray or purplish color ; very firm and juicy, adheres 
closely to the stone ; tree vigorous and grows fast and large ; 
leaves very large with reniform glands ; flowers small ; fruit 
sub-acid, keeps well ; early in September. This is an Ame- 
rican seedling raised many years ago from the French Blood 
Cling-Stone Or Claret. 

80. Blood Free-Stone. — This is a French variety, nearly 
of the same flower and description of the Blood Cling. It is 
pleasant, sub-acid and very juicy, better to eat than the Cling, 
and is used for the same purposes. Matures about the first or 
middle of September. The leaves have no glands. 

81. Indian Blood. — Large, dark claret, with deep red 
veins, downy, flesh deep red, very juicy, vinous and refresh- 
ing. Middle August, in Ga. Originated in the South. 

DWARF PEACHES. 

82. Italian Dwarf. — (Hermitage, Richmond Nurseries.) 
Medium size, whitish green, rich and juicy ; bears early, 

and reaches the height of five feet. It is both ornamental 
and useful ; free-stone. August. 

83. Van Buren and Golden Dwarfs — Hermitage and 
Richmond Nurseries. 

Fruit large, yellow skin, with red cheek , flesh yellow, sub- 
acid and fair quality ; foliage dense and pretty ; cling-stone. 
August. Generally grows to the height of four or five feet. 

CURIOUS AND ORNAMENTAL VARIETIES. 

84. The Double Blossomed. — Thomp. Double Flower- 
ing Peach, Bon. Jard. Rose Flowering, 0. Duk. Down. 

The Double Blossomed peach, when in full bloom, is a gay 
and very beautiful tree. The great profusion of large showy 
flowers, resembling small roses, is a most lovely and exquisitely 
beautiful sight ; and should be placed beside the Double Flow- 
ering Cherry, as a gay rival, in all pleasure grounds and 
ornamental gardens. The blossoms of this peach are at least 
three times the size of the common peach, of a brilliant rose 



THE PEACH. 297 

color, "nearly full double," and so thickly spread on the 
branches as to exhibit their blushing loveliness to the greatest 
advantage. 

The tree blooms at the usual season. Some prefer bud- 
ding this variety on the Mirabelle or the Cherry Plum stock, 
in order to render it more dwarf. 

85. Weeping Peach. — Reed's Weeping Peach. Down. 
This singular, pendant, weeping variety, whose branches 

very much resemble:- the weeping ash, was originated near 
New York City. In order to display it to advantage it is 
best to graft it, six or eight feet high, on the clean stem of a 
peach or plum stock. The leaves have reniform glands, and 
flowers very large. 

86. Pyramidical. — Grows to a height of twenty feet in 
a compact form, like the Lombardy Poplar. This is highly 
ornamental. 

87. Van Buren's Dwarf. — Somewhat in the style of the 
Italian Dwarf. Fruit yellow, cling, very pretty and useful. 

88. Flat Peach op China. — land. Thomp. Down. 

The Flat Peach of China, "is more curious than beautiful." 
It is a very singular variety with small fruit, about two inches 
in diameter, and so flattened at the ends that only the skin 
and the flat stone remain, the fleshy part being crowded on 
either side. The tree is rather dwarfish, and the leaves re- 
main very late. The fruit is of good flavor and is desirable 
in the gardens of the amateur and the curious. This peach 
is sometimes called " China Peach, Jarva Peach, Peen To." 

Leaves with reniform glands ; fruit small, flattened so 
much as to form a deep hollow at both ends ; having at the 
top a singular, broad, rough, fine angled eye. Skin pale 
yellowish green, mottled with red on one side. Flesh pale 
yellow, with a circle of red round the stone, (from which it 
separates), sweet, juicy, with a slight noyeau flavor. Last 
of August. Flowers large. 

The two dwarfs, just described, are also highly ornamental, 
and should adorn the gardens and orchards of the curious. 
These, however, are really useful as well as ornamental. 



298 THE PEACH. 

NEW VAEIETIES— in 1869. 

Mr. Elliott, of Ohio, who is high authority in peach culture, 
says, " Of new varieties of American or foreign origin, I learn 
only of the following as especially worthy of record:" 

89. Prince of Wales. — A seedling, grown by Thos. Rivers, 
England, from the seed of the Pitmaston Orange Nectarine, 
and has this } r ear fruited in this country by James H. Rick- 
ets, of Newburgh, New York, an enterprising and enthusiastic 
fruit cultivator. The tree is a fine grower; fruit of medium 
size; free-stone; ripe early in September (in New York). 

90. Princess op Wales. — This is also a seedling, by Thos. 
Rivers, England. Grown from the seed of Pavie de Pompone, 
and, like the Prince of Wales, has been first fruited in this 
country by Mr. Rickets. The tree is a free grower; the fruit 
is of full medium size, often almost large ; flesh white ; free- 
stone; ripens last of September. 

91. Salway. — This is another foreign variety that, although 
not specially new, appears to have characteristics to make it 
a valuable market variety. The tree is a vigorous grower. 
In size, the fruit is large or very large ; the flesh orange 
color; free-stone; matures very late, even into the middle of' 
October; hence, taken with its extra size and high color, it 
promises a valuable sort for marketing in the South and 
West. 

92. Richmond. — Fruit large, skin yellow and red, free- 
stone, and promising of value for market. Propagated by 
Dr. E. W. Sylvester, of New York. The fruit has less acid 
than Crawford's Early. 

93. Atlanta. — Fruit of medium to large size; skin white, 
with a dark, almost purple-red cheek; flesh white, adhering 
slightly to the stone. Of excellent and almost best quality. 

94. Foster. — Originated near Boston — has not been figured 
or described, although it has received premiums. It some- 
what resembles Crawford's Late, but (at the North) considered 
a better fruit, and ripens about the same time. 

Note. — All the above new fruits are figured and more fully described 
in that excellent periodical, "The American Horticultural Annual," 
Orange Judd & Co., New York city. 1870. 



THE PEACH. 



299 



SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PEACHES — REVISED 
CATALOGUE. 

Selected from the Catalogue of the Committeee of Revision, present- 
ed and accepted at the meeting of the American Pomological So- 
ciety, held at Richmond, Va., in September, 1871. 



NAMES. 



* Amelia) 

Baldwin's Late 

fChinese Cling 

Cole's Early Red... 
Crawford's Early.. 
Crawford's Late."... 

Druid Hill 

Early Fillotson 

Eaton's Golden.... 
Geo. the Fourth... 
Grosse Mignonne 

Hale'sEarly 

Heath Cling 

Did. Blood Cling.. 

Lady Parham. 

Large Early York. 

Lemon Cling 

Morris' White 

Old Mixon Free... 
Old Mixon Cling.. 

Smock 

Susquehanna 

Stump the World. 
Yellow Rareripe... 
Yellow St. John... 



DESCRIPTION. 



Z' 



ni.j.r 

j. m. 

]• v. 
ni.j.r, 

.1- v. 

j- 'v. 
m.j.r 
m.j.r 
s.j. 
m.j.r. 
s. j. h. 
m.j.r. 
s. j. h. 

j- v. 

j- v. 
s.j. h. 

j- v. 
m. j. r. 
s.j.h. 
m.j.r. 

j- v. 
s.j. V. 
s.j.h. 

j- v. 
s.j. 



E. 

l! 

M: 

V E 
M. 
L. 

V L 
VE 

L. 

M. 

M. 
VE 
VL 

L. 

VL 
VE 

L. 

M. 

M. 

M. 

L. 

M. 

L. 

E. 
VE 



Embracing Cen. Div bet. 35° and 42°, and 
South Div. bet. 28° & 35°. 



pica 

in "S 

H'ii 

sa .a 



_ , O I CD 



o o 



o oo 
o oo 
o o 



The columns explain : Size 1, large ; m., medium ; s., small. Class, 
P., freest me ; O, clingstone. Color, relative to flesh, w., white or pale 
colored; v., yellow or yellowish; g,, greenish white, red at the stone. 
Quality, m. j. r., melting, juicy, rich; s.j., sweet and juicy; s. j. h.> 
sweet, juicy, and high flavored. Glands — s., serrated without glands ; 
g., glands globose ; v., glands reniform. Season — those designated as 
early, ripen in latitude 43°, previous to or about Sept. 1st; medium, 
those ripening from the 1st. to the 15th. of Sept., and late those after 
period; E., early; M. medium; L., late ; V. E., very early; V. L., 
very late. Origin — Am. American, F. Foreign. One *or ° designates 
recommended, two ** or °° gives the character or superiority for family 
and market use. 

* This originated in South Carolina, and differs from the Missouri 
Amelia. 

f Berchmans thinks it is the same as Shanghae. 



300 THE PEACH. 

NEW FOREIGN VARIETIES— Highly Recommended. 

Belle Beauce, Early Silvers, 

Belle Couquete, Early Victoria (Rivers), 

Belle Done, Pucelle de Malines, 

Chevreuse Hative, Raymackers, 

Early Albert (Rivers), Vineouse. 

SELECT CATALOGUES OF VARIETIES. 

Having arranged the nomenclature and description of the 
various sorts and modifications of the best known varieties of 
the peach, it also becomes necessary to furnish the orchardist 
with catalogues, suitable not only for the different purposes to 
which the fruit may be applied, or used, but also to furnish 
lists adapted to the different soils and climates most congenial 
to the growth of the tree and the development of its fruit. 
This we have taken much pains to accomplish, and hope we 
have succeeded in a manner that will be considered both judi- 
cious and appropriate. 

The elements of a good peach list, says a modern author, • 
should combine only a few varieties of the most hardy, 
healthy, handsome, good, large, portable peaches — ripening 
in succession from the first of July to the middle of October — 
extending in succession some four months. 

In accordance with these views we present the following 
list of the best varieties for general cultivation, for market and 
home consumption, throughout the South and Southwestern 
States, as well as portions of the Western States, which, ac- 
cording to the best of our judgment and information, are com- 
prised in the following list. By a proper selection from this 
list, the peach season may be extended from the first of July 
to the middle of October; and, when the Heath Cling and 
Baldwin's October, as late varieties, are selected, which keep 
in a good state of preservation a month after gathering, 
nearly five months may be counted for the duration of the 
peach season. 



THE PEACH. 301 

VARIETIES SUITABLE FOR GENERAL CULTIVA- 
TION.* 

Early Tillotson and Hale's Early ; early in July. 

Froth's Early and Malta ; middle of July. 

Honey peach; early in July — June, in South Carolina. 

Yellow Rareripe and Early York ; last of July. 

Anna Ruffin ; July. 

Large Early York and Royal George ; first of August. 

George the Fourth; August. 

Columbia, or Georgia peach ; middle to last of August. 

Snow peach, Late Admirable, and Heath Free-stone; last 
of August. 

Chinese Cling and Crawford's Early; August. 

Susquehanna; August and September. 

Druid Hill; First of September. 

Old Mixon Cling; September. 

Old Mixon Free and Morris' White; first of September. 
• Lemon Cling; middle of September, South Carolina. 

Red Cheeked Melocoton ; September. 

Ward's Late; middle of September. 

Grosse Mignonne or Royal Kensington ; first of Sept- 
Crawford's Late; September. 

Coolridge's Favorite and George the Fourth; first Sept. 

Monstrous Pavie — late (Southern States). 

Noblesse and Morris' Red Rareripe; September. 

Smock's Free-stone; last of September. 

Heath Cling; first of October. 

Eaton's Golden Cling, Lagrange, Tippacanoe, Blood Cling, 
and Henrick's Heath; October. 

Parker's Late; 10th October (cling). 

Baldwin's October. 



* Although this list may approximate as near as any that could be maie for general 
cultivation in the South, yet we are aware that no such list can succeed generally through- 
out even this State (Virginia). Varieties that are best in the Piedmont and Western 
portion will not succeed in Tide-water Virgihia, and vice versa. There must be special 
lists for the different localities, as it regards the peach — and the same may be said of the 
Summer and early Fall apples. 



302 



THE PEACH. 



SELECT PEACHES ADAPTED TO THE CLIMATES OF 
MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, WEST . VIRGINIA AND N. 
CAROLINA, FOR A SUCCESSION. 



Hale's Early, 

Fay's Early Ann, 

Crawford's Early, 

Early Tillotson, 

Red Rareripe, 

Yellow Rareripe, 

Morris' White (preserving), 

Grosse Mignonne, 

George the IV., similar to 
Large Early York. 

Columbia (Georgia peach, In- 
dian peach), 

Snow Peach, 

Smock's Free, 

Lemon Cling, S. S. (beautiful 
blossoms and fruit), Ken- 
nedy s Cling, 



Washington, 
Old Mixon Cling, 
Ward's Late, 
Crawford's Late, 
Susquehanna, 

White Heath Cling (for pre- 
serves), 
White Magdalen, 
Red Magdalen, 
Jeweler, 

Alberge's Yellow, 
Old Mixon Free, 
Red Cheeked Melocoton, 
Lagrange, 

Eaton's Golden Cling, 
Heath Cling, 
Baldwin's October. 



SELECT PEACHES FOR MARKET, ADAPTED TO THE 
LATITUDE OF MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, Ac. 



Large Early York, 

Haine's Early, 

Druid Hill, 

Lemon Cling — Kennedy 's 

Cling, 
Fay's Early Ann, 
Morris' Red Rareripe, 
George the IV., 
Columbia, 

We are indebted to Messrs. 



Henrick's Heath, 

Old Mixon Free, 

Smock, or St. George, 

Heath Cling, 

Old Mixon Cling, 

Early and Late Crawford, 

Yellow Rareripe, 

Lagrange, 

Baldwin's October (Georgia). 

Harris & Wallis, of the Coves- 



Note. — For market purposes, large, high-colored fruits bring the 
highest prices. Clings are not so well adapted to distant markets. 



THE PEACH. 803 

ville Nurseries, Albemarle County, Va., for valuable aid iu 
arranging these lists. They can furnish all the varieties of 
peaches, as well as apples. 

SELECT PEACHES, ADAPTED TO THE STATES SOUTH 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 

Heath Cling, Monstrous Pavie. 

Blood Cling (pickling and preserving). 

Kennedy's Cling, South Carolina. 

Blood Free-stone, Fr. [Sanguinole, Sanguine). 

Old Mixon Cling, White Cling (large). 

Orange Cling, large, deep orange, excellent. 

Late Admirable {Teton de Venus). 

Lemon Cling (native of South Carolina). 

Columbia — Indian, or Georgia peach (market). 

Grosse Mignonne (origin France). 

George the IV., Early Tillotson (market). 

Early Ann (English), very early. 

Druid Hill (market), Bellegarde, Walters' Early. 

Morris' Red Rareripe, Morris' White (White Rareripe). 

Lagrange, Honey Peach (origin S. C), very valuable. 

Jacque's Rareripe (yellow), Smock Free. 

Walburton Admirable (late English). 

Late Heath, free; White Melocoton. 

* Pace, or Tinsley (seedling), often 13 inches circumference; 
Baldwin's October, free; October to middle of November. 

Snow Peach, Dulany (a seedling from the Heath). 
Hunter; September. (Shape and size of large Early 
York.) 

* These arc fine Georgia peaches, and are extensively cultivated near Clarksville, 
Habersham county, in place of Northern varieties. The first is a magnificent fruit, 
often weighing over a pound. The second is also a native seedling, ripening its fruit from 
the last of October to middle of November, with the unusual property of keeping sound 
until December. (These fruits are worthy of general cultivation.) No region of coun- 
try upon the globe can exceed Georgia and portions of Mississippi in the perfection of 
their peaches. The burning sun developing the fine saccharine qualities of this delicious 
fruit to the highest degree. Even the yellow-fleshed varieties are sweet and savory, with 
o nly so much acid as to be grateful to the taste. Early peaches from South Carolina and 
Georgia may be put in Northern markets at least four weeks earlier than from their 
own orchards, as the peach ripens in the middle portions of these States by the 10th of 
June. 



304 THE PEACH. 

Clark's Early (originated near St. Louis). 

St. Louis — a large native yellow peach (market). 

"Walter's Early, Cole's Early, pale fleshed free-stones. 

Old Mixon Free (pale fleshed). 

Lagrange, President. 

George the IV. (market). 

Morris' Red Rareripe (market). 

Royal Kensington, Bergen's Yellow, Troth's Early, 

Yellow Rareripe, Chinese Cling, Crawford's Late, 

Early Chelmsford, Susquehanna, 

Coolridge's Favorite, 

Crawford's Early, Catawba, 

Lady Parham, Iron House, 

Van Zandt's Superb, Bradford's Free, Noblesse, 

Cromwell's Yellow, Large White English Cling, 

Grand Turk, Delcis Cling, Eaton's Golden Cling, 

Nix's Late, Cox's October. 

SELECT PEACHES FOR MARKET, ADAPTED TO EX- 
TREME SOUTHERN LATITUDES.* 

Early Tillotson, Honey Peach, 

Early York, Columbia, 

Early Ann, Kennedy's Cling, 

Walter's Early, Pace, or Tinsley, 

Druid Hill, Snow Peach, 

Old Mixon Free, Morris' Red Rareripe, 

George the IV., Heath Cling, 

Lemon Cling, Baldwin's October, 

Smock Free, Nix's Late, 

Iron House, Lady Parham. 
Chinese Cling, 

*As far south as Florida the peach tree is long-lived, healthy and vigorous, and is 
never subject to injuries from thepeac^ worm, or the diseases which so universally afflict 
the fruit in the Northern and Western States. The most delicious peaches may be 
raised almost without care, by every family, and in abundance sufficient even for the 
economical feeding of swine. The earliest varieties of this fruit ripening in the begin- 
ning of June, and the latest sorts continue until late in August. The earliest and the 
latest varieties should be chosen for cultivation in Florida, as the rainy season com- 
mences in July and continues throughout that month, causing much of the maturing 
fruit to crack. 



THE PEACH. 305 

CHOICE PEACHES FOE A GARDEN OR SMALL OR- 
CHARD, FOR GENERAL CULTIVATION AND FOR 

A SUCCESSION. 

Early Tillotson, Early Yellow Rareripe, 

Hale's Early, Delce's Cling, 

Early Newington, Morris' Red Rareripe, 

Royal George, President, 

Crawford's Early, Lemon Cling, 

Noblesse, Crawford's Late, 

Royal Kensington, Columbia, 

Tippecanoe, Heath Cling, 

Old Mixon Free, Baldwin's October, 

Morris' White, Nix's Late. 

W. C. Flagg, of Illinois, in an essay on peaches, says that 
from his experience and observation the variety with the 
fewest objections is the Old Mixon Freestone; and that for 
a list of four market varieties which will nearly cover the 
season, and against which few objections can be urged, he 
names : 

Troth's Early, Old Mixon Freestone, 

Large Early York, Smock Freestone. 

Barry recommends for a succession from August 1st to 
October, in eastern and western latitudes : 

Early Tillotson, Crawford's Early, 

Early York, Jacques, 

Haines' Early Red, White Imperial, 

Coolridge, Lemon Clingstone, 

Yellow Alberge, Large White Clingstone. 

THE ELMWOOD LIST FOR CULTIVATION SOUTH. 

The following valuable list, prepared by Mr. Jas. Stewart, 
of the Elmwood Nurseries, Memphis, Tennessee, may be relied 
on, to run through the season, as among the best and most 
profitable for the orchardists of that section : 

Early Tillotson. — The finest and most profitable of all 

21 



80b THE PEACH. 

the early peaches. You can, for shipment, gather the entire 
crop on the last of June. 

Early York. — Somewhat larger than the Tillotson. It 
can be shipped on the 10th of July, and be eaten for fifteen 
days longer. 

Iron House. — Can be shipped on the 15th of July, and 
in eating for ten days longer. This tree originated with the 
late Win. Armour, in middle Tennessee. It was planted by 
his iron house — hence its name. It is large, dark yellow 
color, of the highest excellence, both in flavor and appearance. 
It is regarded as the finest of all that class of peaches of its 
season. 

Morris' Red. — Well known, and good everywhere. 

Van Zandt's Superb. 

Bradford's Free. 

Early Newington. 

Noblesse. 

George the Fourth. — All first class fruits here. 

Chinese Cling. — This can be shipped on the 20th July, 
and in eating the 1st of August. I regard this as the finest 
I have ever seen globe. Size, very large ; color, light green, 
marbled and streaked with red; flavor surpassingly grand. 
Leaves, habit and growth, very distinct. For profit or any 
other purpose, this fruit, in our climate, leaves all others in 
the shade. 

Old Mixon Cling. — Is ready for shipping by the 1st of 
August. This old variety will ever be popular; it is one of 
the very best peaches of its season. 
Cromwell's Yellow, Grosse Mignonne, 

Crawford's Late, Buckner's Red, 

Flewellen, Stump the World, 

Rodman's Cling, Red Magdelene, 

Each a favorite. 

Morris' White. — This is truly a noble variety; color 
creamy white; very large, and in general appearance very 
attractive. In shipping order the 1st of August. 

Large White English Cling. — A distinct peach of great 



THE PEACH. 307 

excellence, and, in every way as desirable as the above for 
any purpose. 

Druid Hill. — In shipping order the middle of August. 
This, though not as fine in appearance, is nevertheless, one, 
if not the very finest of its season. 

Late Admirable. 

Lemon Cling. 

Grand Turk. — This splendid peach originated ten miles 
south of Memphis. Large, and of very dark blood color; 
skin beautifully marbled with green. 

Delce's Cling. — In shipping order on the 25th of August. 
This fine variety originated with Major Bradford, of. Browns- 
ville, Tennessee; in appearance and quality it resembles the 
famous and well known White Cling Heath — good every 
where. 

White Cling Heath. — This comes in order about the 1st 
of September. It is so universally known I need say nothing 
about it. 

Lagrange. — Regarded here as one of our very best ; ripen- 
ing about the 15th of September. A most magnificent variety 
for shipping, and beautiful appearance in market. In color 
and appearance it is about the same as the Heath tribe. 

Eaton's Golden Cling. — For a change in color, we now 
add Eaton's Golden Cling; a most beautiful golden yellow, 
ripening about the same time with the Lagrange. 

Lady Parham. — Latter end of September; very excellent. 

Nix's Late. — Matures about the 10th of October. Quality 
the very best. "Both the latter varieties resemble the Heath, 
and are the very best to run you through the entire season, 
and wind up the list. The above is the result of long expe- 
rience and close observation. As they have fruited, grown, 
matured, and proved themselves with me, so they are here 
briefly described to you." 

"Any one planting this succession may rest assured that 
they will not be disappointed, although I must say there are 
other varieties which, for amateur purposes, may be prefer- 
able. The Noblesse, for instance, an exceedingly tender and 
most deliciously flavored fruit, is, by many, esteemed the most 



308 THE PEACH. 

luscious and excellent of all peaches. Also, the Grosse Mig- 
nonne is hardly surpassed in this latitude, though not so 
attractive in appearance." 

It is well to recollect that situation, climate, latitude, soil, 
and even circumstances, have something to do in the produc- 
tion of the high qualities of this delicious fruit which is at 
home in the uplands of all southern countries. 

BERKMANS' LIST— AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. 

The following select list was furnished us by Mr. P. J. 
Berkmans, Augusta, Georgia. We consider it very valuable 
for that region, and well adapted to other southern latitudes: 

FREESTONES. 

Amelia. — Synonyms, Stroman's Carolina, Orangeburg, 
Rayzers, June, etc. Very large, conical, white, nearly cov- 
ered with crimson ; juicy and high flavored, vinous, sweet. It 
is too tender to stand long carriage; but as a peach for home 
consumption it is truly magnificent; July 1st to 10th. 

Baldwin's Late. — Large, oblong, greenish white, with 
red cheek ; juicy and well flavored ; October 10th. 

Bergen's Yellow. — Large, round, skin yellow, covered 
with dark red; flesh yellow; juicy, sweet, high flavored; 
July 10th. 

Columbia. — Synonyms, Pace, Tinsley's Superb, St. Ste- 
phens, Yellow Indian, etc. 

Crawford's Early. — First of July. 

Crawford's Late. — Middle of July. 

Early York, serrated. — End of June. 

Early York (Large). — July 10th. 

Early Tillotson. — June 15th to 25th. 

Grosse Mig-nonne. — Middle of July. 

Hale's Early. — Ripe specimens were gathered here on 
the 10th of June. 

Late Admirable. — Syn. Teton de Venus, etc. Ripe 
July 20th. 

Note. — Mr. B. says, to prevent the attack of the borer, " hill up the trees in April and 
leave off again in November. If any eggs are by chance deposited, they can be easily 
destroyed." 



THE PEACH. 309 

Late Rareripe. — About 1st August. 

CD 

Lady Parham. — Medium, skin greenish white, seldom with 
any red, flesh white, juicy, . vinous, highly flavored ; a first rate 
late variety. Beginning of October. 

Lagrange. — Middle and end of August. 

Old Mixon Free — Middle to end of July. 

Osceola. — Large, golden yellow, with orange cheek, with 
a few red' veins ; flesh golden yellow, sweet, buttery, and with 
an apricot flavor ; belonging to the Indian type. Beginning of 
September. 

Picquett's Late. — Very large, yellow, with red cheek ; 
flesh yellow, buttery, rich, sweet, and of the highest flavor. 
Originated by Antoine Picquett, Esq., Belair Georgia, and a 
most valuable acquisition. 1st Sept. 

Red Cheek Melocoton. — Ripe middle July. 

Stump the World. — Very large white, with bright red 
cheek ; flesh white, juicy and of good flavor, stands carriage 
well and a fine market variety. July 20th and lasts three 
weeks. 

Susquehannah. — End of July. 

Troth's Early. — Almost identical with Early Tillotson. 
Ripens three or four days later. 

CLING STONES. 

Austin's Late Red. — Large, white, with red cheek, flesh 
white, juicy, vinous, and well flavored. Middle of October. 

Bagby's. — Large, white juicy ; tree of slender growth. 
Middle August. 

Bordeaux. — Large, yellow, with a faint red cheek, flesh 
yellow, rather coarse, but of good flavor, very showy. Ripe 
July 20th. 

Chinese. — Splendid in our climate. 

Demming's September. — Large, oblong, with a protuber- 
ance, yellow, with red cheek ; flesh yellow, red near the stone ; 
juicy, vinous and excellent; resembles the Lemon Cling. 
Middle September. 

Elmyra. — Large, white, nearly covered with red ; flesh 
white and red near the stone, juicy, good. July 15th. 



310 THE PEACH. 

Eaton's Golden. — Medium, skin golden yellow, with occa- 
sionally a few pink spots ; flesh yellow, sweet, juicy, with 
apricot flavor. Middle of September. 

Flewellen — Large, deep red, with deeper red veins ; flesh 
red and juicy, vinous, very good : belongs to the Indian type ; 
most beautiful and showy. July 20th. 

Heath Red. — Large, oblong, skin creamy white, with red 
wash, flesh juicy, vinous and well flavored, red near the stone. 
August 25th. 

Heath Late White. — Syn. Heath, (Coxe), Heath Oling- 
Stone, Fine Heath, White English, JEliza Thomas, Patter's 
September, Rawy Peach, White Grlobe, Henriette, etc., etc. 
September. Large, rich, superb. 

Indian Blood. — Large, dark claret, Avith deep red veins ; 
downy, flesh deep fed, very juicy, vinous and refreshing. 
Middle of August. 

Newington Cling. — Syn. Old Newington Qling, (Lang., 
Lind., Thomp.) Newington, (Parkenson.) Large Neivington, 
(Coxe.) Flesh separates partially from the stone. This is 
a very large, handsome, and excellent old English peach ; has 
been in cultivation some 200 years. 

Nix's Late White. — Large, oblong, white, slightly tinged 
with red, downy, flesh white, juicy, and of fair quality ; -fine 
for preserving. Middle to the end of October. 

Old Mixon Cling. — End of July. 

Pine Apple. — Syn. Lemon Qling, Kennedy's Carolina, 
Allison, Early Lemon Cling, etc., etc. Middle of August. 

Tinley's October. — Medium, white with a wash of red ; 
flesh white, juicy, and of high flavor. Middle of October. 

LIST FOR THE VICINITY OF ATHENS, GA. 

An extensive peach-grower, near Athens, Georgia, at the 
request of the Editor of the "Athens Southern Cultivator," 
has furnished the following very valuable list of desirable 
peaches, suited to that locality, which, doubtless, will answer 
for many other portions of the South. 



THE PEACH. 311 

EREE-STONE. 

Hale's Early, Early Tillotson, Troth's Early ; June. 

Red Rareripe, Amelia ; July 1st to 10th. 

Walter's Early, Washington Free, white, George the IV., 
Early Admirable, Yellow Rareripe, Crawford's Early, yellow ; 
10th July to 20th. 

Morris' White, White Imperial ; 20th to 30th July. 

Green Catharine, Walter's Late, Old Mixon Free, Late 
Admirable, Heath Free, Brevoorts Morris, Bloodgood's L. 
Green, Chevreuse Tardine ; about 1st August. 

Late Rareripe, Crawford's Late, Rose Hill Seedling, Stump 
the World ; about 1st August. 

President, Pace, Ward's Late Free; Last of August. 

Lagrange, Picquett's Late, President Church, Smock ; Sep- 
tember 1st to 10th. 

Baugh, Edward's Late, Baldwin's October, Lady Parham ; 
about 12th October. 

CLINGS. 

Georgia Cling, Chinese ; July 15th. 

Congress, Large White Cling, Old Mixon, Baltimore Rose 
Lemon Cling. 

Tippecanoe Cling, Washington ; August 1st. 

Donnahoo, Demming's September, Catawba, Eater's Golden 
Cling ; September. 

Dabney's, Hulls' Athenian, Austin's Late Red, Gaither's, 
Late, Nix's Late ; October. 

PRESIDENT ALLAN'S SELECT LIST. 

The annexed list of first class fruit, furnished by request, 
expressly for this work, by J. M. Allan, President of the 
Virginia Horticultural and Pomological Society, and Horti- 
cultural editor of the " Southern Planter and Farmer," Rich- 
mond, Va., is very valuable. It is intended more particularly 
for the Tide-water district of Virginia, but will answer for 
many other sections. 

Hale's Early, free-stone ; July and August. 

Note.— The first twelve only, on the above list, should be selected for Northern mer- 
chants. 



312 THE PEACH. 

Troth's Early ; middle July. 

Early York, free-stone ; July and August. 

Early N ewington ; August. 

Alberge's Yellow, (Yellow Rareripe) ; July and August. 

Crawford's Early, George the Fourth, Royal Hensington, 
Red Rareripe, free-stones ; August. 

Morris' White, free-stone ; August and Sept. 

Crawford's Late, Old Mixon, Red Cheeked Melocoton, 
Teton de Yenus, free-stones, Tippecanoe, cling, Lemon Cling, 
Ward's Late, Old Mixon Cling, President ; Sept. 

White Heath Cling ; Sept. and October. 

DWARF PEACHES. 

Italian Dwarf, free-stone; August. 

Van Buren's Golden Dwarf, cling-stone ; Sept. 

SELECT PEACHES FOR THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA 
AND WEST VIRGINIA. 

The order observed here constitute a valuable succession of 
sorts, from August to October, which are esteemed for all 
purposes. 

Hale's Early ; first to middle of August. 

Cole's Early Red, Early York, (serrate), Early Newington ;. 
middle of August. 

Fay's Early Ann ; August. 

George the IV., Grosse Mignonne, (English,) Coolidge's 
Favorite, Troth's Early ; end of August. 

Bergen's Yellow ; beginning of Sept. 

Alberge Yellow, (Yellow Rareripe) ; early Sept. 

Crawford's Early, Brevoort's Morris ; beginning of Sept. 

Snow Peach ; beginning to middle Sept. 

Jacques, Rareripe, Old Mixon, free-stone; middle Sept. 

Morris' White, Scott's Nonpareil, (New Jersey), Red Cheek- 
ed Melocoton ; middle to end Sept. 

Old Mixon Cling, Susquehanna, Stump the World, (New 
Jersey) ; end of Sept. 

Crawford's Late. 



THE PEACH. 313 

Pool's Large Yellow ; beginning of October. 
Lemon Cling ; late for preserving. 
Tippecanoe Cling ; beginning of Oct. 
Lagrange ; late, valuable for preserves. 
Blood Cling, Carpenter's White ; October. 
White Heath ; very late for some locations. 

SELECT LIST FOR THE TIDE-WATER AND OTHER 
PORTIONS OP MARYLAND. 

(President Allan's List is well adapted to this region, to 
which may be added the following very fine varieties.) 
Early Tillotson ; 15th to 25th July. 
Columbia ; late in August. 
Chinese Cling ; August. 
Heath Free-stone ; beginning Sept. 
Honey Peach ; Last July. 
Grosse Mignonne ; August. 
Druid Hill ; Sept. 
Late Admirable ; early in Sept. 
Noblesse ; Sept. 

Lrage Early York ; early in August. 
Morris' White, Snow Peach ; last of August. 
Monstrous Pompone ; Sept. 
Royal George ; August. 
Susquehanna ; Sept. 
Lagrange ; last Sept. 
Parker's Late ; 10th October. 
Baltimore Beauty ; first of August. 

WOODSON'S GREEN RIVER LIST— Ky. 

The following catalogue of select peaches, adapted to the 
Green River, and other sections of Kentucky, has been furn- 
ished us by Mr. A. C. Woodson, of the Green River Nurseries, 
Hart county, Kentucky ; together with his apple list, insert- 
ed in another part of this work. We are under many obliga- 
tions to Mr. W., for his catalogue of superior fruit. 
Old Mixon Free, Smock's Late Free,' 



314 



THE PEACH. 



Crawford's Early, 
Crawford's Late, 
Grand Admirable, 
Stump the World, 
Hale's Early, 
Cole's Early, 
Early Tillotson, 
George the IV., 
Early Newington, 
Hopkinsville, 
Morris' Late, 
Grand Admirable, 
Catharine Cling, 
Columbia, 

Van Zandt's Superb, 
Ward's Late Free, 
Bindford, 



White Heath Cling, 

Breckenridge, 

Heath Free, 

Grosse Mignonne, 

Van Buren, 

Golden Dwarf, 

Stump the World, 

Shanghai Cling, 

Pope's Cling, 

White Point Cling, 

C hapline* 

Jerries Seedling, \ Ky.. 

Allen Cling, 

White Heads, 

Bed Heath, 

Nix, Late. 



LIST BY THE KENTUCKY STATE POMOLOGICAL 
SOCIETY— 1869. 

President, Laivrence Young, Louisville. 



Early Tillotson, 
Catharine, 
Breevort Morris, 



Ward's Late Free, 
Grand Admirable, 
Grosse Mignonne, 



* This elegant new peach, is a mixture of Indian and White Cling — size variable but 
generally large. Flesh and skin beautifully streaked with red, with sweet, rich, luscious 
flavor. Origin, Hart comity, Ky. Mature in August. 

t This new variety resembles the Hopkinsville. • "Very large, flavor superb ; free-stone. 
Origin, Hart county, Ky. August. 

Note. — With other sensible remarks Mr. Woodson warns those who 
are about to engage in fruit culture, not to depend too much on new, 
untried sorts, whose qualities and value are not well established ; but 
recommend those who intend planting an orchard to rely mainly on old 
and well tried varieties. He says also, if you want fruit, buy only accli- 
mated fruit stock. 



Note. — We are indebted to Mr. Woodson for a copy of the list. 



THE PEACH. 315 

White Heath, Red Rareripe, 

George IV. Tippacanoe, 

Early Newington, , Sidock's Late Free, Ky. 

Heath Free, Crawford's Late, 

Lagrange, Hopkinsville, 

Van Zandts, superb, Cole's Early, 

Hale's Early, Old Mixon Free. 

Columbia, 

PIEDMONT SELECT LIST— GA. 

(Between Tide-water and the Blue Ridge 3fountains.) 

FREE-STORES. 

Hale's Early, Troth's Early, Honey Peach, Early York ; 
July. 

Early Newington, Crawford's Early, Grosse Mignonne, 
George the IV, Newington Early, free, Columbia, Large Early 
York, Red Rareripe, Morris' White Rareripe, Malta, Noblesse, 
Royal Hensington ; August. 

Bergen's YelloAV, Crawford's Late, Druid Hill, Heath Free, 
Old Mixon Free, Teton de Venus, Ward's Late Free, Late 
Admirable, Lagrange, Snow Peach ; September. 

Baldwin October, Lady Parham ; October. 

PARTIALLY ADHERING. 

Early Tillotson, Early Newington, Washington, Atlantic; 
July and August. 

CLING-STONE. 

Chinese Cling, Red Magdalene ; August. 
Lemon Cling, Tippecanoe, Blood Peach, Indian Blood, 
White Heath, Nix Late ; September and October Clings. 

AMATEURS SPECIAL LIST. 

Nutmeg, white, Early Tillotson, 

Early Anne, Grosse Mignonne, 

Columbia, Freestone Heath, 

Hale's Early, Baltimore Beauty, 

Noblesse, Double Blossom Peach, 



316 THE PEACH. 

George the IV., Flat Peach of China, 

Snow Peach, Weeping Peach, 

Druid Hill, Royal Hensington, 

Late Red Rareripe, Monstrous Pavie, 

Honey Peach, Chinese Cling, 

Troth's Early, Stump the World, 

Lady Parham, Lemon Cling, 

Morris' Red Rareripe, Nix, Late White. 
Yellow Rareripe, 

LIST OF CHOICE PEACHES— 1869— By F. R. Elliott. 

The Serrate Early York has received universal favor as 
one of value, in giving fruit of medium size, and of superior 
quality, free from defects. Next to this, 

Troth's Early, Yellow Rareripe, Crawford's Early, 

Old Mixon Free-stone, Smock Free, 

Early Newington, free, Sturt'evant, Crawford's Late, 

Columbia, Coolridge's Favorite, Heath, 

Late Admirable, Moore's Red Rareripe, Noblesse, 

Red Cheek Melocoton, have each had their champions, 
because of their real and intrinsic value. 

ADDITIONAL LIST AND DESCRIPTION OF SELECT 
PEACHES. 

LATITUDE, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. 

Free-stones. 

Canary. — Medium size, pale yellow, flesh yellow, juicy, 
apricot flavor ; very good ; delicate fruit, too tender for mar- 
ket; ripe end of June. 

Fleitus St. John, or Yellow St. John.— Large, round- 
ish, light yellow, with a bright red cheek, flesh juicy, sweet, 
and of high flavor; ripens with the Early Tillotson and lasts 
longer. Lately brought to notice in Louisiana, and promises 
to be very valuable. 

Fruitland Seedling. — Very large, oblate, greenish white, 
with a mottled cheek, flesh greenish white, very juicy, vinous 
and of good flavor. 



THE PEACH. 31T 

Gaylord. — Very good, large, white, with red cheek, flesh 
white, very juicy, rich, beautiful; middle of August. Origi- 
nated by Dr. Philips, of Mississippi. 

Great Eastern. — Very large, (often measuring 14 inches) 
greenish white, with a slight wash of red, flesh juicy and 
sweet, sometimes a little coarse; a showy fruit. Originated 
in the . orchard of J. P. Berkmans' Nurseryman, Augusta, 
Georgia; July 20th. 

Julia. — Medium white, with a slight red wash, flesh white, 
juicy, vinous and good; ripens end of Oct. to 15th Nov. 
As with all late peaches its quality is modified according to a 
warm or cold October, Origin, Aiken, South Carolina. 

Napoleon. — Medium, downy, skin dark red, flesh pink- 
veined red, juicy, rich; July 20th. 

Owens' Seedling-. — Medium, white, with a few red veins, 
flesh pure white, melting and well flavored; 1st to 15th of 
August. 

President Church. — Large, yellowish white, with some 
motling of red on sunny side ; flesh white, a little red near 
the stone, very juicy, melting, very good; middle of Septem- 
ber. Origin, Athens, Georgia. 

Pucelle de Malines. — Medium, skin white, beautifully 
washed and mottled with carmine, flesh white, sweet and of 
exquisite aroma ; very superior, but too tender for market. 

Clingstones. 

Bletcher's. — Large, white, with red wash, juicy, vinous 
and very good; July 20th. 

Duff Yellow.. — Large, white, with red-wash, showy, juicy, 
vinous, sub-acid, and very good; matures 20th to last of July. 

Georgia Cling. — Medium, skin white, much covered with 
red, juicy and very sweet; end of July. 

Griswold. — Large, white, much covered with red, juicy 
and very sweet. 

Goode's October. — Large, skin white, washed and veined 
with pale red, flesh white, with red veins, juicy, vinous, and 
finely flavored — of the Indian type; beginning of October. 



318 THE PEACH, &C. 

Mitchell's Mammoth. — Similar to late White Heath ; but 
a little later. 

O'Gwynn. — Large, with crimson cheek, juicy, melting, of 
good flavor; matures early in August. 

Scott's October. — Medium, pale yellow, flesh yellow, 
juicy and vinous — very good ; matures early in October. 

White Pine Apple. — White, with a protuberance — skin 
white with dark crimson near the base, flesh white, red at the 
stone, melting, juicy, good; ripe beginning of August. 

LIST BY THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTHERN HORTI- 
CULTURIST. 

(YAZOO CITY, MISSISSIPPI.) 

Dr. H. A. Swasey, Editor and Proprietor of that excellent 
periodical, The Southern Horticulturist, Yazoo City, Missis- 
sippi, has furnished us with the following select list of fine 
peaches, which, from his personal experience and observation, 
he confidently recommends for general cultivation in the 
Southern States. This list of choice varieties for a succession 
is sufficiently large for most farmers, although it contains but 
a small portion of the fine sorts that may be profitably culti- 
vated in most southern regions. We are under many obliga- 
tions to Dr. Swasey : 

Early Tillotson, Crawford's Early, 

Yellow St. John, Bergen's Yellow, 

Troth's Early, Chinese Cling, 

Yellow Rareripe, Crawford's Late, 

Cole's Early, Old Mixon Cling, 

Early Chelmsford, Old Mixon Free, 

Coolidge's Favorite, Susquehanna. 

Late Admirable, Pride of Autumn, 

Catawba, Raymond Cling, 

Smock's Free, Lady Parham, 

Ward's Late, Baldwin, 

Heath Cling, Cox's October. 
Lagrange, 



THE PEACH, AC. 319 

MARKET LIST FOR THE VICINITY OF ATHENS, GA. 

Free-stone. 

Hale's Early, Early Tillotson, Troth's Early ; June. 

Red Rareripe, Amelia; July 1st to 10th. 

Waller's Early, Washington Free (white), George IV, Early 
Admirable, Yellow. Rareripe, Crawford's Early, (yellow); 
July 10th to 20th. 

Morris' White, White Imperial; 20th to 30th July. 

Green Catharine, Old Mixon Free, Late Admirable, Heath 
Free; about 1st of August. 

Late Rareripe, Crawford's Late, Stump the World; Au- 
gust 1st to 15th. 

President, Pace, Ward's Late Free; last of August. 

Lagrange, President Church; September 1st to 20th. 

Baugh, Edward's Late; September 5th to 20th. 

Baldwin, Lady Parham; about 12th October. 

Clings. 

Georgia Cling, Chinese Cling; July 15th. 

Congress, Large White Cling, Old Mixon, Baltimore Rose, 
Lemon Cling ; July 15th to 1st August. 

Tippecanoe Cling, Washington Cling; August 1st. 

Downahoo, Demming's September, Catawba, Eaton's Golden 
Cling; September. 

Dabney's, Hull's Athenian, Austin's Late Red, Gaither's 
Late, Nix's Late White; October. 

We are indebted to the Southern Cultivator, Athens, Ga., 
for the above. It was procured from an experienced and re- 
liable orchardist of that vicinity. It is intended as a list for 
both home and Northern markets. 

SELECT APRICOTS. 

Dubois' Early Golden, Large Early, 

Purple or Black, Royal, 

Moorpark or Peach. Red Roman. 



320 THE PEACH, &C. 

SELECT NECTARINES. 

Golden Cling, Boston, 

Downton (free-stone), Elruge, 

Hardwicke, Hunt's Tawry. 

SELECT FIGS. 

Celestial, Golden, 

Lemon, Brunswick, 

Brown Turkey, White Marseilles. 

No kind of insects depredate on this delicious fruit. 

SELECT CHERRIES. 

May Duke, Early Richmond, 

Belle de Choisy, Black Tartarian, 

Belle d' Orleans, Conestoga. 



PEACH BASKETS AND CRATES. 

Peach Baskets specially adapted to shipping peaches, to- 
matoes, and other delicate fruit long distances, may be obtained 
with or without crates, of the American Basket Company, 
New Britain, Connecticut, or of the Beecher Basket Company, 
Westville, Connecticut, who are equally reliable, or of any 
other companies, most of whom have agencies all through the 
South for the sale of their crates and baskets. There may be 
also Southern establishments for their manufacture and sale. 

These baskets are cheap enough to give away, and are so 
constructed as to carry the fruit with the least possible injury. 
They are smooth on the bottom and sides, and have no sharp, 
cutting edges like ordinary splint baskets, or like the common 
slat crates (we are speaking more particularly of American 
companies' baskets), and they cost less than either. They are 
made of strong white wood, put together with annealed and 
clinched nails, and corner irons; and are so arranged that the 
fruit cannot be misplaced or stolen. The packages are suffi- 
ciently ventilated to secure the fruit from fermentation, and 
are not so open as to expose it to sand or dust. They are 



THE PEACH, AC. 321 

made of the strongest material, ironed and riveted in a thor- 
ough, workman-like manner; and the American Basket Com- 
pany has a new style of hasp or lock. This hasp or lock 
combines all that is usually required of a padlock, hasp and 
staple. It is much cheaper, and at the same time neat, con- 
venient and attractive. As a lock for fruit trees or crates it 
cannot be surpassed. It can be locked or bolted without 
using key. (Price $1.50 per dozen.) 

In using these baskets they should be well filled with the 
fruit and handsomely rounded. The buyer will always honor 
a full basket; scant measure is an abomination. The racks 
that separate the baskets admit of heaping liberally. If heaped 
when packed, the baskets will be full when they reach market, 
and will find a ready customer. 

A NEW WAY TO DRY PEACHES. 

Dr. Joseph Treat, of Vineland, N. J., givres the following 
in the Practical Farmer, which he says are new directions for 
preparing peaches for drying: 

"Never pare peaches to dry. Let them get mellow enough 
to be in good eating condition, put them in boiling water for 
a moment or two and the skins will come off like a charm. 
Let them be in the water long enough but no longer. The 
gain is at least six fold. Saving of time in removing the 
skin, great saving of the peach, part of the peach saved, the 
best part, less time to stone the peaches, less time to dry them, 
and better when dried. A whole bushel can be done in a 
boiler at once, and then the water is turned off. This very 
morning we had two bushels skinned, stoned (halved), and on 
the boards long before a quarter of them could even have 
been peeled." 



22 



jLiE>:p:r_.:Ej otjlttjs.e. 



ERRATA. 



Page 13, second paragraph, 10th line, for variety read varieties. 

27, 9th line, for spots read^iofe. 

28. second paragraph, 1st line, for making read make. 

31, third paragraph, 3rd line, for warmth of read warmth for 

34, Angsburg read Augsburg. 

44, 13th line, for cottonwick read candlewick. 

61, 6th line, for growing read grown. 

79 and 82 inadvertent repetition of quotations. 
Ill, in note, for vines, read rinds. 
120, for, Rein ett read Reinelte. 
120, for Dornine read Dominie. 
125, for stave read starve. 
129, second paragraph, for nibbed read nipped. 
141, far King of Tompkin's City read King of Tompkin's County. 
147, for Grims' read Grimes'. 

150, Baldwin should be listed as a fall apple in the South. 

151, May Apple, White Jwieating, Early May of the South. 
157, for Mason's Pippin read Mason's Stranger. 

157, in note, for Norfolk read New York. 

19S, last paragraph, for Dr. Teith read Dr. Pilch. 

PEACH OTT:H.TTJ:R,IEL 



ERRATA. 



Page 244, eighth line from bottom, for wood aches read wood ashes. 
275, for Montagne read Montague. 

279 and elsewhere, for Royal Hensington read Royal Kensington. 
282, for Large Yellow York read Large Early York. 
284 and 285, for Malacatune and Malagatune read Melocoton. 

285, for Molocoton read Melocoton. 

286, for Malacoton read Melocoton. 
288, Class III omitted at No. 49. 

296, No. 83, for Van Buren and Golden read Van Buren's Golden. 
301 and elsewhere, for Coolridge read Coolidge. 
314 and elsewhere, for Brevort read BrevoorCs. 
316, for Fleitus St. John read Fleilas St. John. 

Note. — The nomenclature of Southern fruit has been in great confusion. Typo- 
graphical errors remedied in second edition. 



GENERAL INDEX TO SUBJECTS, 

APPLE CULTURE. 



PAGE. 

Introduction 1 

Advice 176 

Afterculture.... 90 

American Pomological Society — list 143 

Additional remarks on preparation of soil 94 

Annual bearing trees — list 120 

Apparent decline in the growth and productiveness of the Apple 

Tree 132 

Apple tree, its origin. &c 16 

American Tent Caterpillar, remedies for 209 

Apples for preserving and ornament 147 

Apple culture, remarks of Prof.. Didwiddie, University, Va 136 

Apple Borer, Round headed 191 

" Remedy for 194 

Apple Borer, Flat headed 196 

Apple worm 197 

Apple report, table, scale of 10 177 

Apple cellar, or fruitery 181 

Apples, Missouri 175 

Apples for sandy soils 145 

Apples forslaty soils , 145 

Apples, other new varieties 143 

Author's mode of setting out trees 85 

Bandages, use of 125 

Barrelling apples for market - 183 

Bark lice, remedies for 205 

Budding 37 

Canker Worm, remedies for 207 

Cautions in pruning 103 

Cement for grafting 45 

Cider vinegar 220 

Cider, manufacture of 212 

" Recipe for making.. = 218 

Codling Moth : 197 

" remedies for 201 

Compositions and washes 106 



324 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Clay for grafting 105 

Climbing c it worm , 208 

Crab, a disease of the bark. 20 

Decayed and hollowtrees, treatment of 22 

Disbarking and ringing .' 125 

Distance at which trees should be planted, table of 178 

Distance between trees in plantations 78 

Dwarf trees, what are a... 108 

Dwarf standard trees — Dwarf bushes 178 

Effect of soil in the modification of fruit 126 

Engrafted fruits •. 25 

Forking the soil under the trees 91 

Forsyth's improved method of curing defects in trees 22 

Fruitfulness, modes of inducing 125 

Fruit ladders 211 

Fruit pickers 211 

Fruit drying houses 209 

Garden fork, its use in the orchard 87 

Gathering, preserving and management of apples 180 

Genet apple, origin of the name 143 

Grafting, extreme branch grafting 44 

Grafting stone fruits 47' 

Grafting old orchards ; time for grafting ; grafting wax ; setting 

the graft ; after treament ; varieties 48-51 

Grafting and improvement 53 

Grafting tools 40 

Growth of young trees accelerated, hide bound trees 91 

Growth of moss 41 

Health and vegetation of trees 22 

Hints for Southern fruit-growers 221 

Holes for trees 65 

Instructions for gathering, barrelling and shipping 183 

Insects injurious to the apple tree and its fruit 190 

Labels for fruit trees 188 

Large apple tree 62 

Latent powers of man and the soil 21 

Laying off orchards 67 

Lime for trees 127 

List of cider apples for general cultivation 147 

List for tide- water Va., and N. Carolina 144 

List of dwarfs for middle regions South 178 



INDEX. 325 

PAGE. 

List of late blooming varieties 121 

List of early bearing varieties -. 145 

List of varieties for sandy soils 145 

List of varieties for slaty soils 145 

List of varieties for preserving and ornament 1'47 

List for the tidewater or maritime districts of the South 147 

List for the mountainous sections of the South, Piedmont regions, 
and upper parts of Maryland, Summer, Fall and Winter vari- 
eties 150 

List for the Valley of Va., West Va., and Southwestern States, 
including portions of the Western States for a succession, in- 
cluding some valuable new varieties 160 

List of Prof. Saunders, Agricultural bureau, Washington city 172 

List, Woodman's for Stanford, Kentucky 

List for small orchard, or garden 147 

List of Southern varieties for general cultivation far South 126 

London D. H. fruit merchant, N. Y. city, letter from 183 

Locations for orchard 126 

Low heads vs. high heads 101 

Manure for trees 66 

Marking fruit trees 87 

Means employed by unskilled farmers to injure their trees , 90 

Medications for the wounds of fruit trees 103 

Missouri apples 1'5 

Moss, remedies for HI 

Mulching 77 

Notched board for setting trees 71 

Northern vs. Southern apples 140 

Notched board 71 

Number of trees to an acre at various distances 177 

Nursery for propagating plants and trees 56 

Orchard, utility of, extent, situation aspect and soil 58 

Overbearing and its remedies 131 

Pears, old worthless trees 52 

Preparation of the holes or places 72 

Piedmont region of Virginia '4 

Planting trees , '" 

Plaster for large wounds 105 

Ploughing among fruit trees 90-64 

Propagaton of fruits, by planting the leaves, by covering twigs 

with moss, by seeds, by budding, by grafting 34-40 

Pruning, 96; Management of Standards, 97; Time to com- 
mence, 98, Pruning to favor luxuriant growth, 100: Pruning 
instruments 1 00 



326 INDEX. 

PA6K. 

Pruning and Grafting Compositions, 104; Composition 

cloth, 105; Clay for grafting. 105; White lead 106 

Preparation of the trees 74 

Preparation of the soil for trees......... ..., 63 

Pyramidal trees 75 

Qualities of apples 179 

Rabbits, Meadow Mice and other bark eaters... 1ST 

Renovation of fruit and forest trees • 23 

Root grafting 47 

Scions, how to cut and preserve 185 

Shellac composition . 105 

Southern varieties 174 

Shipping apples......... 183 

Southern Winter apples 222 

Southwest Mountain section o.f Virginia 61 

Spurring in 124 

Staking 77 

Standard orchard trees 75 

Surplus growth of wood of trees 115 

Tap roots 130 

Thinning fruit 131 

The bearing year, Dr. Hull's views 114 

Transplanting, 80; general direction '. 82 

Training young trees useless in the South 107 

" pyramidal, 108; Fan training — , 107 

Treatment of trees that have been frozen in packages.. 90 

Various manure for fruit trees ' 113 

Varieties — what to plant, a puzzling question. 140 

Washing, nursing, scraping young trees 22 

Warning to the orchardist 141 

Wier's codling moth trap 203 



PEACH CULTURE. 

Allan's list, President Virginia Hort'l Society 311 

American Pomological Society s List 299 

Athens List — Georgia. 310 

Berckmans' List — Augusta, Georgia 308 

Borer, remedies for 

Banking System , 256 



INDEX. 327 

PAGE. 

Scalding 259 

Virginia Remedy 258 

Blood Peaches 295 

Choice Peaches for garden or small orchard 305 

Classes of Peach Family. 

I. Freestone peaches , with pale flesh 274 

II. " " '.' deep yellow flesh 283 

IIT. Cling-stone peaches, commencing with Heath 288 

IV. Varietes partial / adhe ing to the stone 292 

V. " producing same from seed 293 

Cultivation 240 

Cueculio, remedies for 

Burning under brush 272 

Curculio catcher 269 

Curious, and ornamental varieties 296 

Diseases — Yellows — Curled Leaf. 249 

Dwarf Peaches 296 

Early Bearing 249 

Enclosures 244 

Elmwood List, Memphis, Tennessee, 305 

Green river list, Kentucky, — Woodson.... , 313 

Injurious Insects — Borer 254 — Curculio 261 

Kentucky Pomological Society List 314 

Leaf Hoppers and Plant Lice 260 

List for General Cultivation 301 

List select for Maryland, Virginia, &c 302 

List select for market for ditto 302 

List additional — Augusta, Georgia 316 

List select for States South of North Carolina 303 

List select for Virginia and West Virginia 312 

Manures 244 

Market list for Athens, Georgia 319 

Mississippi list — Dr. H. A. Swasey, Yazoo City 318 

New foreign varieties 300 

New varieties ■ 298 

New way to dry peaches 321 

Ohio select list— F. R. Elliott 316 

Origin and History of the Peach 225 



328 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Peach Baskets and Crates . 320 

Piedmont select list — Georgia 315 

Planting the Trees 236 

Planting a Nursery 239 

Preparation of the Soil 236 

Proper Location 237 

Propagation of the Peach j 232 

Remedy for the Yellows 252 

Select Apricots 319 

Select Cherries 320 

Select Figs 320 

Select Nectarines..-. 320 

Suitable Soils and Situations 234 

Symptoms of the Yellows 251 

Tide-water list— Maryland 313 

Training and Pruning 245 

Uses of the Fruit , 232 

Wash for Peach Trees .' 249 

When to Plant.., 237 

Young Trees Dying, 228 



INDEX TO APPLES, 



STANDARD NAMES IN ROMAN LETTERS ; SYNONYMOUS NAMES IN ITALICS. 



PAGE. 

Abram or Father Abraui 158, 172 

Albemarle Pippin 143, 155, 172, 168 

Alexander 152 

American, W. Winter Calville 150 

American, S. Pearmain 143, 160 

American Golden Russett 143, 148 

Annate 141 

Atkins 169 

Beaman's Seedling , 144 

Baldwin, (Coxe) 153, 156, 163 

Baltimore Red. (Ben Davis) 143, 144 

Bean, Waxen 149 

Bellefleur, yellow 143, 163 

Ben Davis, Ky. Red Streak, N. Y. Pippin 157, 143 

Benoni 121, 148, 177 

Berry 174 

Beverley's Red 158 

Black's Hardtimes 141 

Blackshear 174 

Borum 172 

Borsdorff 122 

Bough, Large Sweet 151, 161 

Beauty of Kent 152 

Beauty of the West 162 

Brook's Pippin 172, 143 

Brown's Seedling, (new) Va 144 

Buff 165 

Buncombe, Red W. Pearmain 178 

Buckingham, Fall Queen 143, 153, 174 

Butter 152 

Campfield, (cider) 147 

Cannon Pearmain 143, 172 

Carolina Red June, Juneating 143, 151, 172 

Carter 174 

Carthouse, Little Romanite 143 155, 159, 



330 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Carter's Blue, (Southern) 178 

Cathead 144 

Catline 162 

Cayuga Red Streak 168 

Celestia, (new) 173 

Chandler, Chandler's Red 169 

Chestatee, (Southern) 174 

Chinese Crab 147 

Cole's Queen Apple 152 

Cogswell 163 

Camack's Sweet, (Southern) 158 ■ 

Cooper's Russeting, (cider) 150 

Cullasaga, (Southern) 158, 172, 174 

Dahlonega (Southern) 174 

Danver's Winter Sweet 143, 168 

Dinwiddie, (new) Va 144 

Disharoon, (Southern) 174, 178 

Dominie 121. 162, 143 

Ducket, (Southern) 174 

Dutch Mignonne 169 

Early Harvest 143, 160, 172 

Early Joe 152, 172 

Early Pennock 145 

Early Ripe 151 

Early Red Margaret 143, 160 

Early Strawberry = 143, 160 

Early Sweet Bough 175 

Esopus Spitzenberg 156 

Equinetely, Fall Queen, (Southern) 174 

Fall Cheese, Gully 141 

Fall Pippin, Holland, erroneous 43, 149, 162 

Fall Queen, Buckingham Batchelor 143, 145, 177 

Fall Wine 153 

Fallawater, Tidpehocken ,143 158 

Famense, Pomme de Neige, Snow Apple , 145 

Family 178 

French Crab, (cider) 147 

Gilpin, Carthouse 156, 150 

Gloria Mundi 168 

Golden Dixie, (new) Va 151, 145 

Golden Beauty, (crab) 147 

Golden Pippin T 144 

Golden Wilding 172 

Goose Pen, (Southern).. 153 



INDEX. 331 

PAGE. 

Gordon's Seedling 144 

Gravenstein 152, 143, 149 

Gregory's Red 144 

Green Cheese, Carolina Greening 143 

Grimes' Golden Pippin 143, 164 

Gully, Mangum, (Southern) ....158 

Hagloe Crab 147 

Hale's Early 172 

Harrison 147, 150 

Hewes' Virginia Crab 143, 147, 153 

Hock's White, (Virginia) 167 

Higby Sweet, (Ohio, new) 164, 143 

High Top Sweet 145 

Honiony, (Southern) 174 

Horse 143, 144 

Hubbardston Nonesuch 165 

Hyslop's Crab... 147 

Ingram's Seedling, (new) 121 

Isaac 144 

Jersey Sweeting 153 

Jonathan 149, 158 

Julian, (Southern) 161, 174 

Junaluskee 143 

Keswick Codlin 160 

King of Tompkin's County '. 157 

Kettageska, (Southern) 178 

Lady Apple, Pomme D 1 Api 166 

Ladies' Sweet 166 

Large Red Siberian Crab 147 

Large Vine 144 

Large Yellow Bough, Summer Sweet Bough 143, 161 

Lawver, (new) 143, 121 

Limbertwig, James River ..143, 150, 172 

Lowell, Orange 145 

London Pippin, (Virginia) 143 

Maiden's Blush 143, 164 

Male Carle, (Ital an) 168 

Mangum, Fall Cheese, (Southern) - 143, 174 

Mason's Stranger 143, 157 

Matilda, (new) Virginia 144 

Mattamuskeet 172 

Maverack Sweet, (Southern Winter) 174 

May Apple, (Southern) 144, 151, 175 

McAfee's Nonesuch lt>5, 143 



INDEX. 



Mc. Cloud's— Southern 147 

Michael Henry Pippin 143 

Milam 121, 143, 158, 173 

Minker 121 

Minister 145 

Montebello (New.) 121, 172 

Moore's Sweet — Western 175 

Morris, (new) Virginia 145 

Mote Sweet, (new, from N. C) 173 

Mother 141 

Nansemond Beauty 144 

Nickajack. (of forty names) 143, 156, 166, 172 

Northern Spy— N. York 166 

Ohio Nonpareil 171 

Orange Pippin, Lowell 144, 145 

Ortley, White Bellefleur 150, 153 

Peck's Pleasant 168 

Pennsylvania Red Streak — Wine &pple 143, 175 

Pilot— Nelson Co., Va 143, 159 

Porter 153, 162 

Pound 144 

Powers 173 

Primate 161 

Prince's Yellow Harvest 144, 177 

Priestly 

Pryors Red * 143, 149, 172 

Quince Apple 153 

Ragland 144 

Rambo 163 

Ramsdell's Sweeting 121, 145 

Rawles' Genet, Neverfail 143, 165, 172 

Red Astrachan 143, 160, 172 

Red Everlasting 169 

Red June, Carolina Red June 151, 175 

Red Fall Pippin— Southern 174 

Red Steak— English Winter 147, 159 

Red Siberian Crab 153 

Red Warrior, (not Wamir) 174 

Rhode Island Pippin 163 

Ridley. 144 

Romanite 143, 159 

Robinson's White 163 

Rome Beauty 172, 175 

Seedling (new) Nelson Co., Va 144 

Shockley 143, 172 



INDEX. 333 

PAGE. 

Siberian Crab 147 

Smoke House 143, 153 

Smith's Cider 153, 143 

Spice Sweet. 161 

Starke Apple — Western 170 

Sylvester , 170 

Strawberry 169 

Striped July 141 

Summer Bellefleur a 151 

Summerour Julian 152 

Summer Pippin 161 

Summer Queen, tCoxe) 143, 161 

Summer Sweet Paradise, (Downing) 162 

Summer Pose 143, 160 

Sops of Wine, (Homony) 121, 174 

Stanard — , 121 

Stone Wall, (new) Lunenburg Co., Va 169 

Swarr, Hewy Apple — Delaware 167 

Sweet Red Streak 153 

Sweet Genet, (new) 121, 170 

Sweet Bough 161 

Sweet June 145 

Sweet Bough, large 151 

Taunton — Georgia 178 

Twenty Ounce Apple 168 

Tulpeholken 158 

Tyler's Rennet, Tyler's Sweet Reinette, (new) Va 170 

Transcendant Crab 147 

Vandevere, (Delaware) 121, 149, 153 

Via, (new) Va 144 

Wagener — Western 175 

Walh-Georgia .175 

Waxen Apple, Bean, Va .'149 

Waugh'sCrab 143 

Wellford's Yellow 143 

White Juneating, May Apple, Va 143, 151, 161 

White Spanish, Reinette 120 

White Winter Pear main 167 

White Bellefleur, Woolman's Long 150 

William's Favorite 181 

Winter Sweet Paradise 143, 156 

Wine Apple, Hayes Winter, Penn. Bed Streak 143, 150, 175 

Wine Sap — Delaware 143, 155, 172 

Woolman's Harvest 1°1 

Yancey's Prize, (new) Va - 144 

Yellow June 144 

Yopp's Favorite — Georgia 172 

Yellow Bellefleur 145, 143. 163 

York Imperial 143 

Note.— The Pound, Wall and Summerour, are Synonymous names 
for Nickajack. 



INDEX TO PEACHES, 

PAGE. 

Atlanta 293, 298 

Allen's Walpole 294 

Amelia 800 

Anna Ruffin — Southern.... 288 

Austin's Late Red — Georgia 309 

Bagby'a 309 

Baldwins Late Free 303, 308 

Baltimore Beauty — Maryland 287 

Batchelder 317 

Bletcher's 317 

Blood Cling, (Fr.) '. 295 

Belle deVitry. (Fr.) 281 

Bellegarde, (Fr.) 281 

Bordeaux 309 

Brayuard's Yellow — Va .' , 285 

Bergen's Yellow — Long Island - 287 

Brenneman Cling — Southern 291 

Briggs, (Coles; 293 

Canary — Georgia 316 

Catharine— English 292 

Chinese Cling— China 291, 306 

Columbia 286, 294 

Crawford's Early 284 

Crawford's Late 284 

Delce's Cling — Tennessee 307 

Demming's September — Georgia 309 

Doubled Blossomed 296 

Double Montague — French 275 

Druid Hill— Maryland 278 

Duff Yellow — Georgia 317 

Early Ann, (old English) 276 

Early Newington, Free Stone 292 

Early Sweet Water 277 

Early York, (serrate) 275 

Early Tillotson 275, 292 

Eaton's Golden 310 

Elmyra 309 

Flat Peach of China 297 

Fleita's St. John— Georgia 316 

Flewellen — Georgia 317 

Foster, (new 298 

Fruitland, (seedling) 316 

Gaylord— Miss ?10 

George the Fourth • 276 

Georgia Cling • 317 

Goode's October — Georgia 317 

Gorgas 28- 



INDEX. 335 



PAGE . 

Grand Admirable ...291 

Grand Turk , gj7 

Griswold g-^y 

Great Eastern — Georgia 3J7 

Hale's Early _ 276 

Hale's Melocoton 094 

Hatch — Connecticut 287 293 

Hartshorn, (Coles) '..529 

Heath Cling, Heath, Late White — Georgia 288 29-1. 310 

Heath, free-stone — Georgia 280 288 

Honey Peach — South Carolira 276 

Indian Blood — Georgia 296 

Iron House — Middle Tennessee 306 

Italian Dwarf. 296 

Julia — Aikin, S. C 3^7 

Late Admirable 278 308 

Lady Parham — -Georgia 3Q9 

Lagrange — New Jersey 280 

Large Early York — Flushing, 1ST. Y 282 

Large White Cling — New York 289 

Large White English. Cling 306 

Lemon Cling, Kennedy's Cling — South Carolina 290, 295 

Merriam, (Coles) 287 

Mitchel's Mammoth — Georgia 318 

Monstrous Pavie — French 289 

Moore's Red Rareripe — Ohio 280 

Morris' White Rareripe 274 

Morris' Red Rareripe 280 

Napoleon — Georgia 317 

Nix's Late — Georgia 307 

Noblesse — English 282 

Nutmeg White — European 282 

Nutmeg Red — European 282 

Old Mixon Free — American 277 

OldMixon Cling — European. 290,295 

O'Gwynn — Georgia 318 

Orange Cling 292 

Osceola, (Belair) Georgia 300 

Owen's — Georgia 317 

President — Long Island 279 

President Church — Georgia 317 

Prince of Wales, (new) 298 

Princes of Wales 298 

Picquet's Late — Georgia 309 

Pine Apple Cling — Georgia 310 

Pool's Large Yellow ; 286 

Pucelle de Malines 317 

Pyramidal, (ornamental) 297 

Red Magdalene— Fr 291 

Red Cheek Melocoton 285 

Red Rareripe... 278 

Richmond, (new) New York 298 

Royal George 274 



336 



INDEX. 



Royal Kensington, Grosse Mignonne 279 

Sal way, (new)— English ! 298 

Scott's October — Georgia 318 

Smith's Newington Early — English 291 

Smock, Free, St. George — New Jersey 286 

Snow ". 277 

Stump the World 309 

Susquehanna — Pennsylvania 288 

Teton de Venus 278 

Tinsley, October — Georgia 310 

Troth's Early. 277 

Tippecanoe — Philadelphia 291 

Tuft's Rareripe 280 

Van Buren's Golden Dwarf ." 296, 297 

Ward's Late 281 

Washington — New York 293 

Weeping Peach — New York 297 

White Blossomed Incomparable 293 

White Pine Apple •. 318 

Yellow Alberge 284 

Yellow Rareripe * 285 

LIST OF PEACHES NOT DESCRIBED BUT INCLUDED 
IN THE VARIOUS LISTS. 



Allen Cling. 

Baltimore Rpse— Maryland. 

Baugh — Gep.rgia. 

Belle Beauce (new). 

Belle Couquete (new). 

Belle Doue (new). 

Binford. 

Bloodgood's Large Green. 

Bradford's Free — Georgia. 

Breckenridge — Kentucky. - 

Brevoort's Morris, Brevort — N.Y 

Catawba — 'Southern. 

Chevreuse, Hatwe, Tardine (new) 

Clark's Early— Missouri. 

Chapline — Hart Co. Ky. 

Cole's Early — American. 

Coolidge's Favorite — American. 

Congress. 

Dabney's — Mississippi. 

Dunnahoo — Georgia. 

Early Albert, (new). 

Early Admirable. 

Early Chelmsford. 

Early Silver, (new). 

Early Victoria, (new) 

Early Yellow Rareripe 

Edward's Late — Georgia. 

Fay's Early Ann. 

Gaither's Late— Georgia. 



Golden Dwarf. 
Green Catharine — Georgia. 
Haine's Early Red — New Jersey. 
Hunter — Southern. 
Hopkinsville, Free — Kentucky. 
Hull's Athenian — Georgia. 
Jacques Yellow Rareripe— Georgia. 
Jerrie's Seedling — Kentucky. 
Late Rareripe. 
Late Heath Free — Southern. 
Malta, Belle de Paris. 
Parker's Late— Southern. 
Pope's Cling — Kentucky. 
Pride of Autumn — Mississippi. 
Raymakers, (new). 
Raymond Cling. 
Rodman's Cling — Georgia. 
Rose Hill, Seedling — Georgia. 
Scott's Nonpareil— New Jersey. 
Sidock's Late Free — Kentucky. 
St. Louis — Missouri. 
Shanghai Cling. 
Vineouse. 

Walburton Admirable— England. 
Walter's Early — New Jersey. 
Southern. White Imperial — New York. 



White Heads. 
White Point. 



Finis. 













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